Claudia Leticia Rodriguez Delgado
September 2008 Update
September has been an exciting month in many
ways. As for my project, everything’s going on perfectly.
Likewise, I’m still planning my trip from Alice
Springs to Darwin. I’ll be there for 2 weeks, and it seems
everything’s working out perfectly. It’s 9 of us who are going.
We’ll visit Uluru, King’s Canyon, Kakadu National Park, Katherine,
Tennant Creek, among other places. We’ll leave this coming Saturday
to Sydney, and then on Sunday to Alice Springs. I’ll be back on the
13th of October.
Moreover, I’ve been volunteering in different
social events in my Hall, to create a friendly atmosphere among the
residents! This is it for September! =D…
August 2008 Update
These 2 months have been so far the most
exciting months in my life. As many of you know, I’m not attending
classes as I’m involved in a research project with the
Comparative Genomics Group (CGG) in the Research
School of Biological Sciences (RSBS) which is part of the
Australian National University (ANU).
This has been a great experience, because I hadn’t worked in a lab
before. I’m learning lots of things also by making stupid but funny
mistakes.
I am using a cytogenetic technique known as
FISH (Fluorescent
in situ hybridization)
that can be used to detect and localize the presence or absence of
specific DNA sequences on
chromosomes. It uses
fluorescent
probes that bind to only those parts of the chromosome with
which they show a high degree of sequence similarity. Fluorescence
microscopy can be used to find out where the fluorescent probe
bound to the chromosome. FISH is often used for finding specific
features in DNA
So right now I’m learning how to manage the
probes, to focus the microscope, prepare slides, among other
things! My tutor’s name is Paul, and even though I keep on making
stupid mistakes he’s quite patient and he is willing to help me
always.
I’m also having lots of fun in my ressie.
Almost every Thursday the Resident’s Committee throws a theme-party
in the bar, and this is another way to meeting people living in my
ressie. I have many European friends, and we’re planning a trip
from Alice Springs to Darwin for the mid semester break! It’s
fantastic! We’ve already bought the tickets from Sydney to Alice
Springs, where we’re hiring a car to reach Darwin. We’re still
discussing some issues as food, accommodation, etc. but still we
have nothing clear. The only thing we have certain is that two
weeks won’t be enough!
Everything’s going on perfectly! I’m really
happy, as I had never been before…
