Junior Year

Journal 2: (9/1/26)

I am learning how to use our PCR machine and how PCR works in general. What I’ve figured out is that PCR testing is basically guess-and-checking for certain genes. For example, I would take a section of yeast genes, and I insert a primer for a gene I suspect the yeast has; if that gene is produced in the PCR machine, I know that I was correct and the yeast contains that gene. If that gene is not produced, I was wrong and that gene does not exist in the yeast. I am also still struggling to contact Parker (SHE WON’T TEXT ME BACK I’M LOSING IT I NEED HER NOTES). But thankfully, Megan sent me Parker’s poster, and I have been trying to work backwards from her procedure to get a protocol. Unfortunately, her procedure is not very specific, so I am having trouble getting an exact list of steps. I’m confident I will be able to decipher it, though, especially with Megan’s help. I also really hope Parker texts me back.

Journal 1: (8/24/26)

It’s the start of WISRD! I am working on finding Parker’s protocol for the Yeast Genetic Engineering Lab; as soon as I do, I’m gonna jump in. So far, I have been reorganizing my journal and getting re-acclimatized to WISRD. I am planning to pitch some plans to make WISRD more interconnected at next Thursday's WISRD meeting.