Course Journal -- Nathan S Lachenmyer
Contents
Week 1
Introductory Stuff
Statement of Objectives
My background is in physics and electrical engineering/computer science; primarily I've worked on feedback and control systems for physics experiments. My Master's research has been in building circuits for cell control using many of the same concepts as in feedback/control electronics, which has inspired an interest in biology.
My hope is that this class will help me learn to apply all of the theoretical techniques I've learned in coursework towards making useful instruments for measuring biological systems. I think that learning how to interface and control biological systems with computers is the key to making significant progress, and that's where I hope I will be able to contribute in the future.
In addition, having a solid understanding of how instrumentation works allows one to modify it to meet ones' needs. If I acquire a solid working knowledge of how bioinstrumentation works, that gives me the freedom to design or repurpose equipment to meet my particular needs. This is a particularly cost-effective approach to instrumentation that make the difference in enabling researchers to do work that would otherwise be outside of their budget.
I am also a frequent contributor to several open-source projects -- of particular note is Boston's DIY (Do-It-Yourself) Biology group based in Davis Square. I hope to be able to contribute many open-source, cheap instrumentation designs to their lab to help people perform biological research with a non-research budget.
Plan for Lab 1
- Calibrations using PSD/Equipartition/Stokes Methods
- E Coli Flagellar Motors
- DNA Tethers
2012 02 14
- DNA Tethers
Week 2
22 Feb 2012
- Prepared sample of 3.2 um silica particles according to lab manual
- 1k:1 dilution of 3.2 um in 1 M NaCl was already available in lab
- Prepared 50k:1 dilution of particles by adding 100 uL of 10k:1 dilution to 400 uL H2O
