In most of my biology courses, there have been projects given to us where we are to evaluate, interpret and draw conclusions from our experiment. These results may not aways give us what we want, but at least we’ve learned how to read them and figure out where to go from there. I think that is probably the most important aspect I’ve gotten out of these projects, when the experiment doesn’t go right. Fortunately as undergrads, we have the freedom to say that the results were “inconclusive,” is “preliminary data,” or that we were bombarded by limitations. So while I was not always asked to go back and change what went wrong, I was at least taught how to analyze and identify where an issue may have arose.

One of the first chances I got to interpret my data and draw conclusion from was in BIOL 250, where I was able to take a swab of my spit and turn it into a SNP of a trait that I may or may not possess. This was really cool because I had to target the gene with a specific primer, and to ensure that my DNA was really there and doing what it was supposed to do, I had to check using gel electrophoresis and a nanodrop. The gel confirmed my DNA because it ran the correct length of basepairs compared to the ladder, and the concentration of A260/A280 checked out. Along with that, I was able to interpret what the spikes in my SNP chromatogram meant, with the presence of spike indicating that the trait was present, and a single spike meaning it was homologous trait. This was really cool to draw a valid conclusion from based off what we knew we had been passed down from our parents, and how the SNPs went along with what we had hypothesized.

In my senior year, I was able to take microbiology, which became one of my favorite classes because of how hands on it was and how independent it was. Asides from getting to learn a ton of new techniques and tests, we were essentially left to interpret all of our data on our own based off of what we had learned. I think my favorite part about this class was the “Unknown,” project, which is where we were given two types of bacteria and we had to successfully identify what they were by doing a multitude of tests. It was really fun to be able to do the trial and error and to see how the bacterias reacted, and how you were really only left with one possible answer in the end. This included running tests to separate the bacteria into Gram negative and Gram positive, and then plating them on different agars to see how they would grow and react. From each test we had to interpret the result and evaluate which test made the most sense to run next. There was basically a flow chart of the order you should follow, but you had to use your reasoning skills to determine which made the most logical sense from what you had concluded thus far. My favorite test was the gas production test, because you got to see how much gas had built up and if your reaction had essentially “exploded” from how much pressure was inside. You can even see the before and after in the yellow reaction where the gel has risen an inch from the bottom!

Since starting research my junior year, I have really learned the importance of interpreting and validating my results. At this point, I think I could run a PCR and gel in my sleep because I’ve done it so many times. But, running these tests has also made me recognize how essential these steps are. They have saved me from using cross contaminated samples, primers that have gone bad and even from using a recommended protocol. Asides from all the practice and skills I’ve developed, evaluating the results of my reactions has taught me to determine at which step I went wrong, and what is the most logical way to either back track or to fix the mistake. I feel really fortunate for this because I know it will only help me become more independent and reliable in a professional work setting. Even though these are typically the beginning steps that lead into my research, they are essential for validating my work and proving to others that what I present it important. Right now I have a whole folder of taped in gel reactions with Xs and circles and rewritten reactions next to them, and it is my favorite thing to open and look at because I love to see the progress that has been made. Unfortunately I do not have a picture of it, so enjoy a PCR verification of DNA done in the proposal study for my research that helped get it underway.

Research is definitely something that I have found a passion for, and I really hope to continue doing it in the future!