Where the magic happens!

So last week i started working in one of the research labs at Strathclyde Uni! To be honest most of the work going on there is way above my level of understanding! Trying to explain what i do is pretty difficult as i myself don't really understand it but we'll have a go!

So my work revolves around genetic manipulation of Streptomyces coelicolor and the genes involved in the regulation of cell wall construction and manipulation such as FtsZ. Its not exactly FtsZ but i've as yet to work out exactly which gene i need to isolate! Hopefully from there i can knock out some genes to evaluate what they actually do! From there hopefully fluorescent microscopy can be used to image the bacteria during mitosis. (again i think thats what we'll do!)

So here is the uber high tech research lab! I always expected it to be an uber neat collection of clean glasswear and neat tidy benches! Instead it seems to be piles of petri dishes and randomly labelled bottles everywhere! There is an order to the chaos but i have as yet to grasp it!!!

So in order to keep the bacteria from escaping the lab we use a containment hood to keep the bacteria from escaping the lab. To be honest its a bit overkill as the bacteria is non pathogenic and is unable to live outside the lab environment! It also helps keep our samples free from contamination! The goon in the picture is the other Chris. Having two Chris' working on the same project can be rather confusing!

So thats my research in a nutshell!

Back in the saddle!

So its taken 5 months to get around to changing my password but finally the shining beacon of truth has been relit!!! So a lots happened in 5 months.

I finally picked up a degree and dragged myself into 4th year! Didn't have the best results for this year but it was a pass and now i'm ready to take on honours with avengance! The results seem a shame as i really enjoyed the topics but couldn't drag myself out of the apathy and malaise that seems to have overtaken my life as an undergrad. Luckily i was fortunate enough to have landed myself a place in a summer studentship course working in a research lab. Its a million miles away from the monotonous drudgery of 3rd year labs, every day is a challenge and a learning experience with a group of people who are all pushing the boundaries of their subject matter. They also seem happy and excited to be there, its this difference that other lecturers and institution need to take into account when developing courses! Sort it out people!

Apart from learning at uni i've also been throwing myself into the extra-curricular activities in the form of the Strathclyde snowsports club! It could only loosely be called a sports club with a large emphasis on drinking rather than skiing/boarding! They also happen to have the best group of people i've ever had the pleasure of meeting! (Apart from Alpine! Love you guys too!) So this year i've taken it upon myself to take charge of the Race Team and guide them on their way to victory at BUSC! Considering the lack of training or even a team per say this is going to be a difficult task but no pain no gain!

Also Somehow had time to race a couple of 12 and 24hr races across the country with some interesting results! See Badger or G's blog for those stories! They are far too long and epic for me to be arsed writing about them! Next one is Sleepless in the saddle on Aug 10-11th.

Loads of other things have happened in that time that i just don't have time to write about (car keying, paris, break ups, make ups etc) Hopefully from now on i'll be able to keep on top of it and keep you up to date on the wild and wacky world of Chris!