FSU-REAPFSU-REAP

June 14- July 16June 14- July 16

Jessica BundyJessica Bundy

Teachers at school told me about this Teachers at school told me about this programprogram

I soon became Dr. Lodhi’s I soon became Dr. Lodhi’s apprentice.apprentice.

His project: The amount of useful His project: The amount of useful DNA present on cell phonesDNA present on cell phones

Sarah and I also helped Camille with Sarah and I also helped Camille with her lab manual.her lab manual.

Then Stefanie Phillips came and Then Stefanie Phillips came and helped us also.helped us also.

Tools of the Trade (for the lab Tools of the Trade (for the lab anyway)anyway)

I have been using pipets, the vortex, I have been using pipets, the vortex, centrifuges, the water bath, and the hot centrifuges, the water bath, and the hot plate endlessly.plate endlessly.

Uses:

-pipets: measure volume, transport liquids

-vortex: mixes ingredients, DNA, etc.

-centrifuges: spin ingredients down

-water bath: heats samples for extended periods of time

-hot plate: stir and heat

Adventures with CamilleAdventures with Camille

Camille, on the second day, gave us Camille, on the second day, gave us a “forensic biology in 5 minutes” a “forensic biology in 5 minutes” speechspeech

Sample ID process: Identification, Sample ID process: Identification, Confirmation, Species Origin, Blood Confirmation, Species Origin, Blood Grouping Test (if blood)Grouping Test (if blood)

Labs with Camille: Luminol, Labs with Camille: Luminol, Hemastix, Phenoylphthaline, O- Hemastix, Phenoylphthaline, O- Tolidine, and HemidentTolidine, and Hemident

Luminol TestLuminol Test

During this During this test we cut test we cut a sample a sample and sprayed and sprayed it with the it with the luminol fluid luminol fluid in the dark in the dark room. The room. The the blood the blood sample sample started to started to glow a neon glow a neon bluish color.bluish color.

DNA ExtractionDNA Extraction

Extraction processExtraction process Sarah and I eventually got to extract Sarah and I eventually got to extract

our own DNA smaples, after our own DNA smaples, after watching Dr. Lodhi and taking notes.watching Dr. Lodhi and taking notes.

We mostly took DNA from cheek We mostly took DNA from cheek swab samples and samples from our swab samples and samples from our own cell phones.own cell phones.

Sarah and I got to use PCI to help break Sarah and I got to use PCI to help break the membranes and the protein layers the membranes and the protein layers of the cells to get the DNA.of the cells to get the DNA.

Applied Boisystems TrainingApplied Boisystems Training

Trainers: Michelle Shepard and Trainers: Michelle Shepard and Shanin LodhiShanin Lodhi

We learned how to operate the We learned how to operate the Realtime PCR and the Genetic Realtime PCR and the Genetic Analyzer. Analyzer.

Also, we learned how the kits that AB Also, we learned how the kits that AB sells use ladders, dyes, and buffers sells use ladders, dyes, and buffers to analye DNA.to analye DNA.

Also, Sarah and I spent a Also, Sarah and I spent a lot of time talking to lot of time talking to Shanin and Michelle Shanin and Michelle about biology, since we about biology, since we have only had high have only had high school level biology class.school level biology class.

We learned about TAQ, We learned about TAQ, inhibitors, exactly how inhibitors, exactly how the machines work, and the machines work, and even heard a few crime even heard a few crime scene stories.scene stories.

DNA workflow: DNA workflow: extraction, quantation, extraction, quantation, amplification, and amplification, and analysisanalysis

REAP’s influenceREAP’s influence

The REAP program helped me realize that I The REAP program helped me realize that I don’t want to work in a lab.don’t want to work in a lab.

I want to be a NC teaching fellow for either I want to be a NC teaching fellow for either chemistry or history.chemistry or history.

Even though I don’t want to be a forensic Even though I don’t want to be a forensic biologist or a chemist, I have more biologist or a chemist, I have more knowledge about how much the lab knowledge about how much the lab influences the criminal justice system and influences the criminal justice system and how the methods and technology operate how the methods and technology operate in crime labs.in crime labs.

Thanks so much to everyone who Thanks so much to everyone who helped me and for giving me this helped me and for giving me this opportunity! I learned a lot and opportunity! I learned a lot and good luck to everyone finishing good luck to everyone finishing your summer research projects!your summer research projects!