Let there be light! or what the FLUROstar OPTIMA saw

I successfully replicated the experiment!  As I described in my last post, a machine measured the light produced by fruitfly luciferase, compared it to the light produced by sea pansy luciferase and the ratio of the products increased as a function of the estradiol I used as a stimulus.  Those of you that know about such things will know I’m happy about the small error bars.  It suggests I also did a good job in reproducing the same volumes in the sample wells.  I’m a bit self-conscious about my micropipetting technique.  (I have a graph to show you but copy and paste from Excel doesn’t seem to work).

This week’s work will be with developing facility with a technique that measures the amount of cortisol (another hormone) in saliva samples.  Those of you that know about the project that Camille Fontaine developed last year may find this familiar.  More later.

1 Response to “Let there be light! or what the FLUROstar OPTIMA saw”


  1. 1 Dana Coover February 20, 2008 at 6:05 pm

    It sounds like your trip is abosolutely wonderful both in your free time and in the laboratory! I feel like I am almost there with you! Mom and I are both missing you and we hope the rest of your trip is just as fulfilling! Oh and one thing, you need to be more thorough in your descriptions… they just aren’t precise enough! :) Love you!
    Dana


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About Me

Hello, I am Joan Magnusen, Professor of Biology at Keuka College. I usually teach an introductory survey course about animal anatomy, physiology, behavior and evolution, courses in cell, development and molecular biology, and a course in animal diversity. During the spring semester of 2008 I am on sabbatical in Australia. Learn more