ew

[opabinia]

Those who know beta-Mercaptoethanol know that it is among the stinkiest, most sinus-clingy smells you can encounter in the laboratory. For the benefit of those who don't know it: It's a lot like a very dense fart from someone with serious digestive issues, it hangs in the air like a cloud of rotten ass for hours, and it simply will not leave your nose after you've walked away.

I'm glad I never have to use it, and I hate it when others in this lab do. Ew.

Comments

[frederic.livejournal.com]

Eh, BME never really bothered me that much. TEMED is far worse. That's one spill I refused to help others clean up.

[subatomicsatan.livejournal.com]

oh, man...i had forgotten about that stuff...i found it had a very odd (and bad), sorta sweet smell...kinda.

now, i'm trying to remember what i used it for...a polymerizing agent, right?

[frederic.livejournal.com]

Yes. Well, close. It's used as catalyst to convert APS (ammonium persulfate) into an active form which then polymerizes acrylamide into gels. I can't say that I've ever heard of another use for that stuff.

[subatomicsatan.livejournal.com]

aaaaahhhhh, that's right! first time i used it was in '87 (last time in the early 90s--at GI we bought those nice premade gels), so i hope my memory failing is excusable. ;)

[frederic.livejournal.com]

Rubbing in the fact that labs in industry get to buy pre-made gels will only make Lepidosiren get more antsy about leaving his current academic perch...

The closest we came to that in academia was prepoured minigels in grad school. The technician would pour the separating part of gels in a variety of acrylamide concentrations and store them in the cold room. We still had to pour the stacking gel but it saved a lot of time.

[lepidosiren.livejournal.com]

Rubbing in the fact that labs in industry get to buy pre-made gels will only make Lepidosiren get more antsy about leaving his current academic perch...

Yeah. Fuckers.

The technician would pour the separating part of gels in a variety of acrylamide concentrations and store them in the cold room.

Neat trick, if you have enough minigel hardware . I just pre-mix all the components for both the separating and the stacking gels, then add acrylamide, AP, and TEMED when needed.

[frederic.livejournal.com]

Well I'm not nor have ever experiened the luxuries of industry. May be one day. In my last lab, I did what you did with pre-made 7.5%, 10%, and 15% acrylamide complete solutions and complete stacking solution.

And to the point about TEMED vs. BME. BME might be stinkier per volume, but to me TEMED is raunchier.

[lepidosiren.livejournal.com]

very odd (and bad), sorta sweet smell...

Makes we wanna yench. Bleugh.

[lepidosiren.livejournal.com]

TEMED I can deal with -- I just use a few microliters at a time. BME, when used, must apparently be poured by the gallon, judging by the fucking reek.

[bottleimp.livejournal.com]

Ah, the mercaptan family. It's the reason that female gingko trees stink, and I believe that it plays a role in the magic of skunk power, too.

[julishka.livejournal.com]

eeeew, female ginko trees area awful! my college had them outside the student union. every spring, we wondered...who puked all over the place? finally, some bio student noticed the trees off to the side. bleh.

[frederic.livejournal.com]

This is the reason why most civilized towns only have male ginko trees lining their streets...

[lepidosiren.livejournal.com]

Why does this sound like an idea to wind into a short story? Anosmia, The Female Ginkgo Town.

Gingkos

[bottleimp.livejournal.com]

We had a female one at my bus stop when I was in elementary school. Many were the fart jokes that ensued.

What_Should_I_Do_With_My_Life

[debbie.livejournal.com]

I'm done with Po Bronson's new book. Do you have time to read it, or should I give it to someone else first? :> I found it delightful.

Re: What_Should_I_Do_With_My_Life

[lepidosiren.livejournal.com]

Me first!

Re: What_Should_I_Do_With_My_Life

[debbie.livejournal.com]

Going to Reverie tomorrow? If not I can drive it up to Arlington as I've got some games I need to get back to Tony too.

Re: What_Should_I_Do_With_My_Life

[lepidosiren.livejournal.com]

I'll email you.