HOW TO KEEP A LABORATORY BOOK
HOW TO KEEP A LABORATORY BOOK • A lab book is used to record what is done in the lab while the experiments are performed. All lab notebooks should be clearly written and comprehensive in order to allow any other person to repeat the experiment without any other source of information. Lab books are a property of the lab. Hand them over to your supervisor before you leave. You may make copies for your own use. • In principle your lab book is a LEGAL DOCUMENT that can be used as evidence in a court of law. Write with an ink pen so that if there are questions about the validity of your findings, you can prove that the work is original. Even when working on unrelated projects, use only ONE SINGLE book and make your notes in CHRONOLOGICAL order. Use identifying headers or different colors for each of your project. If you need to correct a mistake, strike a single line through the error. Do not use an ERASER. NEVER tear a page and do not leave blank pages! • Several analytical techniques yield data only in electronic form. Where practical, make printouts to keep with your records. In addition, use a system of folders and filenames that allows you (and others) to recognize and access the data. WRITE DOWN the filename(s) connected with your experiment in your lab book. Make BACKUPS of any electronic data. • You are expected to write your lab book in ENGLISH or GERMAN • Write in your lab book EVERY DAY and not once a week about the last week’s experiments. It is best when you write while doing the experiment. • Start a NEW BOOK by writing your name on the front cover and spine. Number your first book with 1 and additional books consecutively. Include the date you started and the date you finished the book. Label all pages with PAGE NUMBERS. • Start a NEW ENTRY by writing o A MEANINGFUL HEADING and the DATE (eg “Isolation of RNA from mouse brain for qPCR analysis of fasted vs. fat mice. This is far better than just “RNA isolation”) o WHY you are doing it (purpose of experiment) o How you are doing it (method) • For frequently used methods, you should write the detailed protocol at least once. Next time you can write “repeat RNA extraction according to protocol on page 45”. Indicate any adjustments you made, such as volume changes, different enzymes, etc. • A frequently asked question is: How much detail should I put in my lab book? You should be able to understand what you did 6 months ago, and another person should be able to understand your work just by reading your lab book. Just think that when writing your PhD thesis you will have to write about experiments performed 3 or more years ago ! • Use common sense. Think about which parameters are important if you need to repeat an experiment, i.e. which instrument settings, which exposure time, which temperature, which growth conditions etc. EXAMPLE ^ Reverse transcription for samples #C1 and #C2 30 November 2007 Purpose: make cDNA for controls #1 and #2 Mix : RNA (used 2γ) Random Hexamers (50ng/ul) dNTPs mix (10mM) DEPC-water Total volume And add RTase mix after RNA denaturing RTase mix: 10x RT buffer (stratagene) RNase inhibitor (40u/ul) RTase TOT VOL. 2 ul 2 ul 4 ul 8 ul 16 ul ALWAYS write the concentrations of the reagents you are using 2 ul 1 uλ 1 ul 4ul Programme o 1) 72 C for 4 min: denature of RNA Stop reaction and put tubes on ice and add RTase mix o 2) 42 C for 60 min o 3) 90 c for 10 min o 4) 4 C forever PCR reaction Tube 1: template #C1 +mix Tube 2: negative control etc…….. Run 2% agarose gel Lane 1: #C1 Lane 2: negative control ALWAYS write the order that you have loaded your samples • AT THE END OF EACH EXPERIMENT ALWAYS WRITE RESULTS AND OBSERVATIONS AS WELL AS FUTURE EXPERIMENTS • Attach in your lab book, if possible, gel photos, ELISA reading, otherwise write down name of file that you have saved your data. • example Result: No detectable band for VEGF for sample #1 Likely cause: amount of cDNA loaded? Note: Load more cDNA next time Compiled by Jürgen Stolz, 25.1.2011
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