Day 22 thoughts.  Phagefinders. 

Planned: 

Did:  spot dilution plating of high titer F2 phage, carried a few F2 phage forward during the waiting periods, processed student images and placed data within student web-pages.  Lazlo presented his restriction-enzyme comparative analysis of the different mycobacteriophages, as published. 

Each student took 2 phage F2 high titer samples, and began the preparation of DNA for this.  Samples were suspended in sodium acetate and isopropanol, and left overnight in the freezer for tomorrow. 

Today's materials:   

Pointers:

Students can take a role in the adding of DNAse, RNAse, STEP buffer and Proteinase K.  All samples are put together, and using different microcentrifuge blocks, the tubes are moved to the next microcentrifuge tray, as different components are added.  A student will open tubes, another does the pipetting, they work together. 

It is important to get this step going quickly, as about 3 3/4 hours of uninterrupted lab-work is needed, or should be planned on, prior to getting DNA into isopropanol.  The procedure cannot be stopped at an earlier step.  The remainder of the procedure can be done the next day.