Spring 11:QRT-PCR weekly reports
From Course Wiki
This page contains weekly reports for the QRT-PCR project.
4/8/11
posted by Kristin Kuhn 00:09, 8 April 2011 (EDT)
This Week:
- constructed heated lid
- heat cycles successfully, with the right temperatures! thanks to Steven.
- detected difference between SYBR DNA and water
- discovered that fiber optic auto-fluoresces.
Next Week:
- wire up heated lid.
- fix the optics (or at least order what I need to fix them)
- get heat transfer function for heated lid.
- do a PCR!
Risks and Issues:
- I may need to redesign the optics. Or order some new stuff. Both of which would take quite a bit of time.
- the heated lid may not achieve the right temperature with the given wire.
- the heating may not be fast enough! And then our PCR would still be bad. How can we make the heating faster? Will I need to redesign the aluminum block? Maybe.
4/1/11
posted by Kristin Kuhn 16:00, 1 April 2011 (EDT)
This Week:
- ordered resistance wire for heated lid
- optical system verified with SYBR DNA
- had intro to LabView versions
Next Week:
- read up on LabView on the internet
- construct heated lid (wire will come in Monday)
- adjust v.2.712 so it works with Thermistors
- fix optics so we get a nice, big signal for DNA. And no background.
- GOAL: get a new heat transfer function with the heated lid!
Risks and Issues:
- heated lid may not be so easy to construct. Maybe it will take me the whole week, and I won't be able to get my other tasks done.
- I'm hoping the optics can be fixed quickly by simply adding another filter, or something equally simple. But if it turns out we need to add another lens to the front of the fiber optic, or something that will fundamentally change the physical set up, then that's going to take a lot of time.
- I have never yet tried to do a full thermal cycle. So, some electrical component of that circuit might need adjustment. Which again, would take time and prevent me from meeting my goal as listed above.
3/25/11
It's spring break! you can't have anything due!! Week of 4/1 includes what I did this week.
3/18/11
This Week:
- Achieved photodiode signal with new fiber optic setup
Next Week:
- research and order parts needed for heated lid
- verify optical setup with mock system (blue LED + ND filter)
- verify current optical and heating setup by talking a DNA melting curve
- start thinking about the QRT-PCR analysis code
Risks and Issues:
- ordered parts for heated lid may not work, or may not come in for a while
- PCR may not work even with heated lid - will need to think of other ways to fix this problem.
