June 27, 2002
Catalysis

Since most people have no idea what I do at work, I thought I'd present a quick list of Today. All this is supposed to do is let people know what I do for 8-10 hours each day. Temporally, that's a large part of my life, so I thought you guys might be entertained by the events that go on in a representatve day in the life of Jacob:

  • Cut 3 mouse brains into slices 1/25 the thickness of a piece of paper

  • Grow neurons in a petri dish and put some DNA into them so we can tell how a certain protein is affecting them

  • Lunch

  • Perform statistical tests on a large amount of data

  • Run an assay called "quantitative fluorometric reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction," (QFRT-PCR) which tells me precisely how much of a specific kind of RNA is present in a mouse brain at a certain time.

  • Stare into space for a about 15 minutes

  • Lab meeting

  • The Frenchman jokingly suggests that sexual harassment runs rampant in our lab

  • In response to his comment, we cause sexual harassment to run rampant in the lab

  • Eat a lot of mints

  • Time to go home

I hope that was interesting. I'm too tired to post anything insightful today. Which is ironic, because I just pointed people from IAM towards this page. Now they'll all be disappointed in the quality of these posts and beat the bejeezus out of me.

But they have to catch me, first.

spacecrew.jpg Posted on June 27, 2002 12:00 PM
Comments

i am so shocked and delighted right now i don't even know what to do with myself.

Posted by: michele on September 26, 2003 01:57 PM

So what kind of instrument is involved in cutting a mouse brain 1/25 the thickness of a piece of paper? Is it similar to the meat slicer at a deli?

Posted by: Jolie on September 26, 2003 07:48 PM

This is the best post I've ever had....I'm so happy right now I could cry!

Jolie: I'm no longer doing that sort of thing (thank god) but yes, it is a lot like a deli slicer.

Posted by: Jacob on September 26, 2003 09:31 PM

soon dianna will be crying from happiness (or pain) too!

Posted by: michele on September 27, 2003 02:57 AM

no, actually, i'm staring in slack-jawed awe and bewilderment. i'm disappointed that jacob just told me this entry's location on this particular page of this blog was probably the work of a bot looking for random pages that allow posting, rather than someone thinking that a page about mouse brains and QFRT-PCR is the most logical place to post ads for penis enlargement, birth control and hair loss remedies. nonetheless, i believe it is the best comment that avenue canyons has seen. a sure sign that AC is achieving the surreal-random-posting status previously enjoyed only by Sushi.

welcome, AC. we're glad you've joined us.

Posted by: dianna on September 27, 2003 09:32 PM

prescriptions aren't cool, you bastard. get with the penis program.

Posted by: michele on November 3, 2003 03:04 PM
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