Photo - Story - Department of Biological Sciences.
In my visit to The University Of Essex, The Biological Science department, I entered a variety of laboratories. Each with there own purposes, research and researchers. They varied from lecturers, Phd, MSc and BSc scientist of all ages and nationalities working in them.
The first lab i entered was called The Metalloprotein Research Group Laboratory, AKA Haem protein Lab. In this lab i met two Phd students who are both on their final year.
Metalloprotiens Research Group Laboratory - University Of Essex.
Rebecca was working on an experiment that required her to go to Sweden to be taught how to perform it correctly. She had grown E. Coli and expressed haemoglobin into the culture. It was then shaken to remove the haem out of the cells and bind in a column. It will come off at different pH. The experiment was not working for her as it had grown in a strange environment. Rebecca was trying to detoxify harm proteins.
Metalloprotiens Research Group Laboratory - University Of Essex.
Plant Physiology was another lab, this was rather empty as most students were trying to write up their works.
Plant Physiology Laboratory- University Of Essex.
I was shown an Instrument in-which light is shone onto plants and a computer measures how efficiently the plant works in converting the light into photosynthesis. This was very interesting and gave some different looking photos.
Plant Physiology Laboratory - University Of Essex.
Beside this lab was a massive green house. This is used to grow plants for different experiments. They are also currently growing genetically modified (GM) plants, I was not allowed into that part of the green house as GM plants are still rather controversial and outsiders are not trusted.
The Green House - University Of Essex.
They have a Tissue culture room where class 2 cultures are used. Class 2 basically means dangerous and can cause illnesses, although they can be cured . There were two students working in here, one was working on blood samples sent to him by the local hospital. I am not sure what he was doing with it though. There was a man in here who was testing the air flow in the fume cupboards, to make sure they are working right and will remove toxins from the air. This has to be done yearly for every fume cupboard in the department, it is a health and safety precaution.
Tissue Culture Room - University Of Essex.
Scientists maybe clever but they are not the tidiest of people, although it is most probably an organised mess for them.
Molecular Oncology Laboratory - University Of Essex.
Every lab had tubes, bottles and tubs made of plastic, glass and quartz everywhere you looked.
Molecular Oncology Laboratory - University Of Essex.
The more dangerous the chemical or sample the more safely it was away in different cabinets, lights and temperatures to suit.
Molecular Microbiology Laboratory - University Of Essex.
The Other Labs visited were: Proteomics Laboratory, Photosynthesis Laboratory, Gene Regulation Laboratory, BioMedical Electron Paramagnetic Resonance Laboratory, Ecology Coral Reef Research Laboratory, Microbial Ecology Laboratory and The Teaching Laboratory. Photographs of these will follow soon.
