Unit 1.1 - Lab techniques for Biologists Flashcards
Give examples of COSHH
Chemicals
Products containing chemicals
Fumes
Dusts
Vapours
Biological agents
What does COSHH stand for?
Control of substances hazardous to health
What does PPE stand for
Personal protective equipment
Give examples of PPE
Safety glasses
Lab coat
Gloves
What does an autopipette allow to be measured
Small volumes of liquid accurately
What are burettes used for?
Dispense precise volumes of liquid reagants
What happens to burette before it is used
Rinsed with the liquid to be used
Where are readings taken from?
Bottom of meniscus
What is repeated dilution from a stock solution known as? (regular intervals)
Serial dilution
What type of dilution is it if each step is a tenfold dilution?
Log dilution
The concentration of a pigmented compound can be quantified using a?
Colorimeter
How does a colorimeter work?
Passing a light beam at a specific wavelength through a cuvette containing a sample solution
How do you calibrate a colorimeter?
Place a calibration solution(usually distilled water) into a cuvette, place in colorimeter and press calibrate, providing a user with a 0 absorbance reading
What is a pH buffer
Solution whose pH changes very little when a small amount of acid/base is added to it (to maintain pH)
Give one method to determine the unknown concentration of a solution
Standard curve (titration)
What seperates substances out in centrifugation?
Size and density
What is the liquid that remains above the pellet called in centrifugation?
Supernatant fluid
What does protein electrophoresis seperate proteins based on?
Charge/size
Give one form of protein electrophoresis
SDS page
Do smaller proteins travel furthur or less than bigger proteins in protein electrophoresis?
Further
What does seperation of proteins depend on if native gels are used?
Protein charge and shape
What do proteins do at their isoelectric point?
Overall neutral charge, precipitate out of solution
What charge do proteins carry below their isoelectric point?
Positive
How does isoelectric focusing work?
pH gradient is set up on gel:
Protein loaded in and moves until it reaches its isoelectric point where it forms a band