Summary first three laboratories

1. 2. Alberto Assignment 1 March 4 (reviewed By Dr. Elena González)
Paragraph 1. Microscopy and Photomicrography
The microscopy and photomicrography laboratory was given by Dr. Robert Ross.
Microscopy refers to the type of light used to magnify a specimen placed on a slide.
During this lab, Dr. Ross taught us some various types of microscopy that exist such as
Bright field, Dark field, Nomarski, Phase Contrast, SEM, and TEM. Bright field is the
simplest microscopy is used for the illumination of specimens in light microscopes. Dark
field microscopy is an illumination technique used to enhance the contrast in unstained
specimens. Nomarski microscopy is used to enhance the contrast of unstained transparent
specimens. Phase Contrast microscopy converts phase shifts in light passing through a
transparent specimen to brightness changes in the image. SEM and TEM microscopy
images a sample by scanning the specimen with a beam of electrons in a raster scan
pattern. Both SEM and TEM shoot black and white pictures because the electrons have
no color; the difference between the two is that SEM pictures are tri-dimensional and
TEM are two-dimensional. In the microscopy lab we also learned that micro techniques
also exist. The micro techniques enable us to observe specimens on any kind of
microscopy. Some micro techniques are: whole mount, which is the organism put on a
slide as a whole; squash, it is when the organism is placed on the slide and squished by
the cover slip, cross-section and longitudinal section, are used to cut the organism on a
certain angle (either longitudinally or crossed); and smear, when the specimen is spread
throughout the lamella. In the segment of class dedicated to photomicrography we
learned how to take quality photos based on the light, and angle.
Paragraph 2. Measurements – Micropipettes and aseptic techniques
The basic microbiological techniques laboratory was given by Dr. Robert Ross. In
this laboratory the following techniques, and information were learned: aseptic
techniques, culture techniques, and identification of bacteria shapes. Aseptic technique is
a procedure that is performed under sterile conditions. The steps for a proper aseptic
technique are as follows: first clean the surface area where the person is going to be
working; it is cleaned with a soap solution. Later, sterilize the tools that are going to be
used to do cultures with a lighter. Microbiological cultures are used for growing certain
microorganisms such as bacteria. The growth medium (which is where the specimen
grows) is agar. Aseptic techniques and cultures are linked, because aseptic techniques
don’t allow other bacteria to enter the growth medium. The way to get a successful
bacterial growth through the agar plate is by smearing the bacteria throughout the plate.
Identification information is of much importance because it allows the person that is
working with bacteria know what he is dealing with. In the lab we discussed coccus,
which is spherical shaped, bacillus which is oval shaped, and spirillum which is spiral
shaped. The micropipette lab was given by Dr. Eneida Díaz. Micropipettes are an
instrument used in the laboratory to grab small amounts measured in micro liters.
Micropipettes can grab from 1 micro liter to 1000 micro liters. Micropipettes are
extremely important for today’s lab necessities, because they are highly specific, can grab
really small amounts, and also reduce waste. During the lab, micropipettes were used to
practice grabbing small amounts. The techniques and info learned in the labs are of big
importance in order to work in a medical laboratory or any laboratory.

2. Paragraph 3. Workshop UNC – From DNA to Protein
This workshop was given by UNC (University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill)
and lasted 3 days. In this workshop old concepts like DNA, protein, RNA,
electrophoresis were reviewed and also learned new concepts and techniques like how to
extract our own DNA, what were oncogenes, and what was translational medicine. The
first day of the workshop we learned about the speakers, from where are they and in what
they were doing research; also it was discussed what was translational medicine, which is
an area of research that focuses its efforts to carry scientific knowledge “from bench to
bedside” (research which focuses on getting knowledge on how to better health). Also on
the same day, some basic cancer information was discussed, and we extracted our own
DNA from saliva. On the next day, we talked more about the basis of cancer, started
talking of DNA, and the importance of the genetic code. The activity that was carried out
in the second day was an electrophoresis of some particular cases and see which one had
the oncogene, which is a gene that has the potential of having or causing cancer; the case
that my group had did not have the oncogene. The third and final day we talked about
what were proteins, they’re synthesis, what did they do, and how to detect them. The
activities done during the third day were an electrophoresis of proteins and we played
Jeopardy in order to see which team had learned more; my team ended in second place. It
was a really good experience, and also it motivated me to keep pursuing a research
opportunity.