Michelle Lu, my last week

With only one week left in the lab, Anna and I are rushing to collect as much data as we can before I leave. After spending basically all of July staining and imaging, we can finally devote some time to quantifying those images. Fortunately, we can pull a lot of data from the images we've collected through a program called Imaris. Unfortunately, some of that data must be collected by hand counting. For example, in order to determine the total number of sensory terminals and how many GABApres are on each sensory terminal, we must go through the Z-stack on the computer and quite literally count how many blue dots there are and how many yellow dots are on each blue dot. Sounds fun, doesn't it? The best part is that each image takes an average of 3 hours to quantify and we have 18 images to do!! So much fun!! But in all seriousness, the data analysis portion of this project is actually quite interesting, for comparing one simple thing, like the difference in size of the sensory terminal between the Wild Type and the Mutant, could provide a significant detail and function for fibin.

In reflection of my time at the Kaltschmidt Lab, I've learned much more that I could have ever anticipated. Since our lab studies both the CNS and the ENS, I've been fortunate enough to learn about and help with projects in both. On top of that, because Anna is also the lab manager, I've noticed that a lot more goes into the general upkeep of the lab than ordering pipet tips and autoclaving water. I'm incredibly sad to end my time here but am lowkey excited to go back home.

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Peddie EXP Summer 2018

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