On getting along in the lab
I was just reading a new protocol for staining yeast cells. At first it was all very routine: Wash cells…fix cells…make cells permeable…stain cells…
But then I hit the next step, and it made me smile:
“You will need to make nice with a microscopist. They have specialized (and expensive) equipment you need access to, and a ton more expertise than this protocol will give you.”
Don’t mess with the microscopists.
Slides are classified as dangerous sharps in our institute. Sounds like a good fight scene for my next novel…When microscopists go bad….
Structural biologists have the coolest weapons, but it takes them six months to get their act together.
“The two microscopists locked steely gazes, circling each other, the light microscope at their backs. Their eyes narrowed, striving to focus without eyepieces. The tension was palpable, electric – an ugly relief of phase contrast that hung in the air between them. Finally, one of them, the senior, pulled out a slide. ‘It’s a 75×50’ he growled, grinning savagely. ‘Frosted.'”
“But the junior just smiled, reaching lazily for her own piece. ‘Ah, but mine’s SuperFrosted™.‘ “