Implemented Adjustments to Protocol

The eggs used in this week’s protocols had an expiration date of 04/01/17.  Per my mentor, to check if the eggs were still usable a simple test was performed.  A raw egg was gently dropped into a beaker of water to see if it would float (it didn’t float).  If it did float it meant the egg was no longer usable and if it stayed at the bottom of the beaker it was usable. Also, another egg from the same carton was boiled and gently dropped in a beaker full of water and it did not float. The eggs used were carefully examined when cracked open to check for any discoloration or bad smells both eggs used in the protocols appeared usable.  Due to last week’s observations the Ready-Lyse-Lysozyme used in the commercial kit was increased to a higher concentration to adjust the DNA yields.  This was done because the DNA yields from the commercial kit were lower than expected.  After completing the protocols from start to finish and running the samples (Egg White, Kit, and Water Lysozyme) in the Nano drop machine the DNA yield numbers from the commercial kit increased. Also each centrifuge tube was flicked/tapped to mix contents, the volume of each centrifuge was relatively equal and the Providencia stuartii TSB incubation period was increased to 48 hours.  Next week the samples collected will be put through gel electrophoresis and polymerase chain reaction.  I’m excited to learn some new procedures and hopefully the data collected from these tests will be more consistent.