Lab techniques

• What can present a hazard in a laboratory?

  Toxic chemicals, heat, pathogens, equipment
• What does risk refer to in a laboratory context?

  Likelihood of harm from exposure to a hazard
• What is a formal risk assessment in a laboratory?

  A careful examination of potential harm
• What are control measures in a laboratory?

  Techniques to minimize risks and hazards
• What is a linear dilution series?

  Dilutions differ by equal intervals
• What is a log dilution series?

  Dilutions differ by constant proportions
• How is a standard curve used in quantifying concentration?

  It determines unknown concentrations from known values
• What is the purpose of buffers in a solution?

  To maintain a constant pH during reactions
• What is required for colorimeter calibration?

  An appropriate blank as a baseline
• How does centrifugation separate components?

  By density; denser components form a pellet
• What is the principle of affinity chromatography?

  Target proteins bind to specific molecules in a matrix
• What does SDS-PAGE do in protein separation?

  Separates proteins by size after denaturing them
• What is an isoelectric point (IEP)?

  The pH at which a protein has no net charge
• How can proteins be separated using their IEPs?

  By using a pH gradient in electrophoresis
• What are immunoassay techniques used for?

  Detection and identification of specific proteins
• What are monoclonal antibodies?

  Antibodies with the same specificity for a protein
• What is Western blotting used for?

  Identifying proteins after SDS-PAGE
• What is bright field microscopy used for?

  Examining whole organisms or tissues
• What does fluorescence microscopy visualize?

  Molecules or structures using fluorescent labels
• What is the purpose of aseptic technique?

  To eliminate microbial contaminants in cultures
• How can a microbial culture be started?

  Using an inoculum on agar or broth
• What are growth factors in cell culture?

  Proteins that promote cell growth and proliferation
• How do primary cell lines differ from tumor cell lines?

  Primary lines divide a limited number of times
• What is a haemocytometer used for?

  Estimating cell numbers in liquid culture
• What is vital staining used for?

  Identifying and counting viable cells
• What are the main laboratory techniques for biologists?

  • Health and safety protocols
  • Liquids and solutions quantification
  • Separation techniques (centrifugation, chromatography)
  • Protein detection using antibodies
  • Microscopy methods
  • Aseptic technique and cell culture
• What are the steps involved in protein separation techniques?

  1. Centrifugation: separates by density
  2. Chromatography: separates by solubility
  3. Electrophoresis: separates by charge and size
  4. IEP: precipitates proteins at specific pH