Last Week

So last week I had started writing up my project. I also got to speak with Mrs. Chapman about my project and she gave me some really useful tips and ideas. Now I just need to get fimiliar with the equipment I am going to be using and begin to understand the data that is going to be giving to me after all the tests. Oh yeah, today Josh decides to tell me there is an easier piece of equipment that can tell blood pressure, which is good but not so good at the same time because I spent A LOT of frustrating time working with the other one, that I completely didn't understand. But all in all I think things are going good and I am working at a nice pace at the moment. =)

Yesterday, Wednesday 1/18

I did research on bioremediation for a possible mushroom project. The species Pleurotus Ostreatus aka the oyster mushroom is the type I may be using because it is one of few mushroom species that grows at temperatures above 75 degrees F.

A Day of Test Tubes

Bioremediation Kit Practice + TSB 

   

• 1st Picture: Me gathering materials from bioremediation kit from Carolina company. 
• 2nd Picture: Four different test tubes with corn oil, distilled water, and Rid-X 
• 3rd Picture: TSB test tube w/ a pinch of Rid-X 

Yesterday I research a Bioremediation Protocol and began the experiment today. I started off by gathering my materials, made a checklist of what I needed, and began work. 

The procedure I followed was (summarized):                                                                                    

• Labeling four different test tubes with a number and my name and date. 
• Next, I added 2 mL of 0.02% tetrazolium indicator to Tube 1 and Tube 2. 
• I added 2 mL of distilled water in Tube 3 and Tube 4. 
• I added 10 drops of Corn Oil to all four tubes. 
• I then added 2 mL of distilled water to Tube 1 and Tube 3. 
• I added 2 mL of microbial suspension (Rid-X) to Tube 2 and Tube 4. 
• I listed in my notebook what componenets each test tube had. 
• I then mixed the liquid in all test tubes by finger vortexing one test tube at a time. 
• Lastly, I recorded observations for each test tube for color, fluidity, and any other characteristics. 
• I will be seeing the difference(s) if any next Tuesday. 

TSB + Rid-X:

• Josh told me to take two TSB test tubes and add Rid-X (about a pinch or so) and next Tuesday come and see what is growing. Should be exciting to see what the results are! 

Conclusion:

I feel that by being involved in this experiment, it gives me practice with regards to microorganisms, oil, and water. I also get to see some interpretation of the real world events such as oil spills, and how it could be possible for bioremediation to come handy. The more practice I get, the better I will understand the concept and find unique ways to approach oil spill situations. 

1/19/12

So I finally figured out what my projects are going to be. The first is a Geno sensor PCR lab and since there isn't a PCR machine I can't start it yet. Currently I'm researching Paper Electrophoresis and this technique is used for the separation of small charged molecules such as amino acids and small proteins. A strip of filter paper is moistened with buffer and the ends of the strip are immersed into buffer reservoirs containing the electrodes. I'm also researching Electrophoresis of saliva.

1/18/12

Happy New Year to all!!!

This year we'll be paying more attention to our projects and mine is going around Stomata and looking at it from many plants at PC. I was thinking I would use 1 from a tree, 1 from a fruit plant, and maybe 1 from a bush.

Project to focus on

Last semester, I researched about Bioremediation and gained some background information about the topic. I am someone that is passionate about saving Mother Nature, which is rather exciting to continue to research the topic and be involved this semester to find ways to save our Earth. Aquaponics/Hydroponics is a pending option, but for now it is most likely that I will put my focus on Bioremediation. Coming from a school that deals with sciences and real life situations, it would be great to introduce this topic to my school and inform students and my teachers about the different methods scientists are coming up with to clean oil spills. Time to see microbes eat oil!

What I will be doing...

Well last semester we were given a project that we needed to work on for the rest of the year. In this project we are required to test people, which is always fun, and what Josh and I have came up with is the affect of reaction time and blood pressure when an energy drink is consumed.