8th - 11th day of VRP 2012

8th-10th Day (15-17/1)
Helped Ms Loo with her samples. We did gel with 50 plus samples. Next day we did DNA extraction using patients' blood samples. It was quite a busy day as we did around 8-9 blood samples using her newly arrived kit. We used 15ml tubes instead of the 0.2ul and 0.5ul tubes we used before. Dealing with patients' blood is quite dangerous, as we don't know what the blood contains, so we kept on changing our gloves every time we realized that there's blood on it, even if it's just a drop. In the end, Ms Loo's newly opened glove box was reduced to nearly half of it's original content, which made Pong and I quite speechless. We had our lunch quite late that day as we need to incubate the samples for an hour and centrifuged it for a few times. As busy as it seems, Pong and I were glad because our time was well spent.

11th Day (18/1)
Ms Loo went back to her hometown today, therefore we were put under the cyto lab. Unfortunately, the audit came that day, so the lab was really busy and the staffs do not have time to deal with us. So we were left alone. Luckily Kak Fiza, a staff from the molecular lab (we actually thought that she was a student at first!), gave us a little briefing on the identification of SMA gene, plus a little chit chatting. She was really friendly, and beautiful too =)
However, our session only last for an hour, so Pong and I were left to spend the rest of the time day-dreaming.
Before we went back, we have decided that we are going to take a leave the next day, for we do not want to day dream the whole day again. By the way, that in turns lengthens our CNY holiday. XD

闷闷的一天

下了一整天的雨，心情...很闷。

今天一大早就被妈妈拉着去打扫房子，收工的时候都已经四点多了，说累却不是很累，但手脚还是酸了，所以就打算先休息一下再去洗个澡。嘿~

休息的时候，突然回想起昨天在教会的一些事情。在查经班，长老突然间问我干嘛听他说话时表情那么严肃，眼神还那么忧郁。我咋舌...那么容易就看穿？当然，我还是说谎了（上帝请原谅我吧~）。其实当时脑子里在思考着某些事情，一些不方便告诉长老的事情。团契的时候，看到某姐妹默默地哭，很自然的，我抱了她，但什么都不想问；唱诗歌的时候，也很感触。哎哟，我昨天到底干嘛啦？

事情暂时解决了，但闷的时候难免还是会不由自主地胡思乱想。我，算是在单拍吗？历史，还会再重演吗？

哈，算了~暂时不想去理。原来我闷的时候还可以写出那么无聊的东西。佩服~ XD

***

听听一些音乐吧~

刚刚帮妈妈下载了《喜洋洋》，无意间又看到了《步步高》、《秦王破阵乐》等等。哎哟，好想念乐团哦~我的宝贝笛子和中音笙~

《喜洋洋》

《步步高》

Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence ACCO

《鼓威》

Tonari no Totoro ACCO

2nd - 7th Day of VRP 2012

Ehehehe, sorry for the late post. I've been quite tired lately after coming back from USM everyday (except Friday and Saturday), and so, lazy to update (><). However, don't be mistaken, I'm not tired because of working non-stop there, but because of all the waiting. Ha, you will know what I meant later.

2nd Day (5/1)

Apart from having to do the DNA quantification and PCR, we actually forwarded our plan for the 3rd day, which included gel electrophoresis. DNA quantification, I think, is used to test for the approximate quantity of DNA obtained in your sample. First, we have to clean the plate, which in this case, we use Tecan's NanoQuant Plate (link here, video here) , then test if the wells of the plate are clean by a process called blanking. If the wells are clean, we then put a drop of the DNA sample into the well and measure it, all with the help of the machine and computer.

After that, we used the DNA samples from the first day (which we also used in DNA quantification just now) to do the PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction). On that day, we just wanted to test for the presence of SRY gene (found on the Y chromosome) and ARG E1 gene. After going through the procedure, we then put the new samples into the PCR machine and waited for approximately 3 hours.

After putting the samples into the PCR machine, we went to prepare the gel used in gel electrophoresis. It just took a few minutes though, so Pong and I had to spend the rest of our waiting time day dreaming. When the PCR machine was done, we took the samples out and add a drop of SybrGreen (just a bit toxic) instead of ethidium bromide (carcinogenic) into the samples. Later we run the gel, and interpreted the results using a UV transilluminator. Here's a link to run the gel: http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/labs/gel/

3rd Day (8/1)

Actually we are supposed to be under Mr. Chia that day, but as the plans have been forwarded, we are now under Ms. Loo's supervision. She is a PhD student and is currently doing a research on stroke. That day, we attended two talks from two companies, one of which was Metasystems (I've forgotten the second one). The guys from Metasystems introduced their company's latest technology and software, which produces better results in karyotyping, , mFISH, mBand, etc. After the talk, we have free lunch (Haha~). Then we follow Ms Loo to run the gel with her samples. At noon, we had another talk from the second company, which introduces the SpeedCycler²,a machine used in Rapid PCR. Then we again run the gel with Ms Loo.

4th Day (9/1)

There were less activities that day, just PCR and gel electrophoresis with more samples and shorter time.

5th Day (10/1)

We repeated the same thing that day, PCR and run gel, it's just that the samples and reagents were different. However, that day Ms Loo showed us how to do the touchdown PCR, which is used to find the optimal conditions to amplify that particular sample.

6th Day (11/1)

The most boring and wasted day for the first week of the VRP. =_=

Our supervisor have taken a leave for two days (11/1-12/1) and we are temporarily attached to the cytogenetic lab. Actually I can tell that the staffs at the lab aren't totally prepared for our unexpected attachment, because we only had a briefing which lasted for an hour from 2-3pm (We are only supposed to be under their supervision starting from February). Our remaining time were spent by reading books, reading the lab's preparation manual, day dreaming and chit-chatting with another post-SPM student from CH, who is under Neuroscience. Sigh...

7th Day (12/1)

Today is a bit busier. We attended a lecture on Cytogenetics by an Indian professor, which is quite interesting. Later we went to the cytogenetic lab again, had yet another explanation, helped Mr. Chia with his new sample with a new polymerase, then back to the lab again to see the slide preparation technique. It's not any normal slide, but one involved in making out the karyotype later.

So, that's all for this week. (Damn, I've been spending 2 hours on this! =_=)

***

Hmm... I still have something in my mind which is bothering me now, though most of it have been solved by Panda. However, I don't know what it is that's bothering me. No even a hint! (Ha...) Hey, you're not the only one who's blur here, ok? Wakakaka~ @@

4th Day of 2012, 1st day of VRP 2012

Today is my first day working at USM under the Vacation Research Programme. So far so good. Initially we were only supposed to have shorts briefings about the rules and regulations in the lab, a little about molecular and cytogenetic, then some safety talk, training on our pipetting techniques, etc. However, as you can see, briefings are short and with so much time left, our schedule for tomorrow has to be forwarded to today. Which means, Pong and I had have the chance to do some DNA extraction, hands-on. It's quite interesting as things like this are never done in schools, plus nearly all the apparatuses used are mini-sized! Then our supervisor for the day, Mr. Chia, demonstrates the DNA quantification to us. We are supposed to do that tomorrow.

In case you don't have any idea of which department am I in, I am in the Human Genome Centre. Our schedule for tomorrow will be DNA quantification (hands-on), briefing, PCR (demo and hands-on) and discussion. I'll see if I can update about tomorrow's activities, provided that I am not that exhausted. Hopefully everything will go on smoothly. =)

P/S: Here's a link to the website http://vacationresearchprogramme.wordpress.com/. Feel free to surf it.

Last Day of 2011

Today is already 31st December 2011. Looking back through this whole year, I wondered if I have really enjoyed it.

Before STPM ended, everything was a rush. Everyone was racing against time to just stuff in all those notes, equations, facts, etc into their brain. I don't know about other classes, but if you stepped into mine, you'll freak out. The whole environment was just the same as that when you are having an examination. Too quiet, too stressed. From there I saw a typical Malaysian kiasu behaviour.

Speaking about that, I suddenly remembered an Indian film "3 Idiots". I'm pretty sure you have already watched it by now, but did you get the message the movie is trying to convey? For what purpose do we study? Is it just to secure a big house, a big car and lots of money? Or do we study something purely out of passion for knowledge? You decide. I'm not going to continue talking about this topic for now, but MAYBE next time. If not, I'll get all sentimental. Haha~

Do you know why I suddenly talk about 3 Idiots? It's because I watched it (not all, just the last part) in a camp held recently. That is the second time I watched it, and when I'm back home, I watched it again for the third time with my brother. OMG...

Hmm... about the camp, I did mention about it in my previous post, right? It main title is "Why Not". I'm not quite sure about the actual title (too blur~ ><), but one thing for sure, I certainly learnt a lot in this camp. In this camp, I'm one of the committee members and suddenly I had to deal with challenges that came last minute. Mind you, I'm not used to that before, so you can actually guess how clumsily I reacted. However, I'm grateful that God gave me the chance to learn, and I even found some really nice friends there. =)

I liked the concept the camp is trying to bring. They teach you time management (where participants don't have any timetable), financial management, teamwork, etc mostly in the form of games. There were also activities like playing korfball, make up lesson, photography lesson, mock mask party, just to name a few. All in all, it's a ride not to be missed. One thing that I'm not quite satisfied though, we committee members were too busy rushing here and there. Sometimes how I wish I was one of the participants. =P

Leaving that aside, I wish I can stay a bit longer (maybe a day or two there) so that I can enjoy the food there. I just can't get enough! ><

Then there comes Christmas. Oh I sure loved that~ Sadly though, I'm not able to do the countdown with my church members on Christmas Eve. =(
Anyway, I still enjoyed caroling and the programmes on Christmas Day. =D

After tomorrow, 2011 will end. Slowly I begin to step into the 20th year of my life (Oh no! I don't want to become 20! ><).

Finally, I'm starting to feel sleepy, but my relatives are arriving tomorrow morning. Oh how am I going to stay awake??? @@

Alright then, time to catch my sleep. Night!

End Of STPM~

Finally, I've found some (little) time to refresh my blog. Ha...
I never thought that I would be so busy after STPM that I barely found time to blog again. I can't even write much now. Hmm...just a few updates will do for the time being.

Tomorrow afternoon (to be exact, it's 17th Dec), I'll be leaving for a camp in Seremban for nearly a week. Then I'll be back on Christmas Eve's morning, after that caroling at night, and then celebrating Christmas the next morning. Whew... can I take it? We'll see later... =P

It's only been a few days since I finished my last paper, but why do I feel like I've been lacking of sleep for like... a week? Argh...

Okay okay... I can't continue writing now, gotta clear all my camera's memory and catch up on my sleep before embarking on my "crazy" trip tomorrow.

Good night!

Ahhh~ Time to write~

Cobwebs, huh? Alright alright, I myself also have the same opinion. My my, this blog is really full of dust!!! *coughs*sneeze*

Hmm...It's been a really really long time since I've updated my blog and now, I don't even have a clue on where to start. CNY? Nay, I'll skip that part. It's been a quiet CNY this year and sounded more like a holiday than CNY. Oh how I missed my dear cousins! But next year, I'll go "bai nian". Remember to ajok me!!!

Now, for the big part.

First of all, I would like to congratulate our Chung Cheng senior, Chun Khoon, for getting a 4 flat for STPM. Yay! You've definitely done us proud! But it's not just him, there are also other CC seniors who got really good results in STPM. For example, In Sin's third sister, In Lu. She obtained a CGPA of 3.42! Congratulations!!!

Now, Sin, there some opinion for your sister. I know I'm just a junior and I don't have the necessary knowledge to give a real good advice. However, here are some of my two cents worth, " Who cares about those critics when we know that we have done the right thing, give our best shot and reap the best fruits from it? The greatest achievement is not just to get the finest fruit, but on how to preserve and make good use of it, how to turn it into a plant that will enable you to reap endless fruits of the same kind. Like Ah Poi said, 'I do what I like, and I like what I do.', follow your heart and at the same time taking the global situation into consideration. However, I'm sure she'll get a good course with her good results. Good luck!

***

To Lyn,
Your birthday post for me will never be late. I only get to see it now because I have a test these few days too.
A dedicated post is more valuable than other materials. The meaning behind it is the one that is most important. I love it very very much~ Thanks for the efforts that you've put in. =D
P/S: Hey, what my latest photo? I already have a bunch all in Facebook la...

To Sin,
Not to forget about you too. Though you may not consider it as a present, I do. Thanks a million!!! As an express of gratitude, I'll keep your handwriting in a safe place. Haha~

To Mimi,
Thanks for your wish~ Awww~ I miss you too <3
I can't wait to gather again with all four of us =D
Good luck in your studies!!!