Much of the work of my project up until this point has been developing a cell line that lacks the ZIP11 transporter protein (knockout or KD cell line). Since that requires working with cells, all the work has to be done in a sterile environment, which is pictured above on the left. Initially, learning how to work in the hood so that proper sterility was challenging, since you want to work efficiently but also not be sloppy. However, I believe that I now have a solid foundation in tissue culture work ranging from bacteria, mouse cells, human cells, and virus thanks to my mentors in the lab and will be able to utilize those skills going forward. On the right is the virus media that I transected with the plasmid that I designed. Today, I plan to concentrate this media (and the virus) and then infect cells in order to knockdown the ZIP11 protein in vitro.
Field Journal - Laidlaw Week 6
Here is my first field journal for week 6 of the Laidlaw program.