Are there biochem-encountered abbreviations you remember being confused about 1st time you saw? I thought with the new semester & lots of people starting research for the first time it might be helpful to keep a decoder on my blog. Sciency terms (IsOH (isopropanol), kbp (kilobase pair)) but also shorthand like O/N (overnight) & RT (room temperature). I’d appreciate slang as well: “hot” for radioactive, “crash out” for precipitate, etc. 

I’ve gotten so used to these terms and abbreviations that I often use them without even realizing they’re “weird” or insider-y (except for some I distinctly remember being confused and/or embarrassed about). I don’t want biochemistry to be insider-y. I want it to be inclusive and accessible. I mean, that’s a huge part of why I do what I do. I know I can’t do the big stuff that could make a difference (think $). But, my goal is to make people feel as comfortable as possible in a lab, lower the accessibility barrier in a small way I can actually help with!

So, I’d really appreciate if you helped me out and tell me some of these terms & abbreviations in the comments so I can add them to my page. Help me pass on all the weird knowledge we acquire through years of getting acclimated in a lab. 

Here’s my list of biochem abbreviations & slang in progress if anyone wants to add to it there’s a place at the bottom for suggestions – still fleshing it out and will add links to relevant blog posts of mine, etc. Thanks! https://docs.google.com/document/d/197Ef7y1rSW7FkAL2BHHYOyQgrtWfo3lsQ7S9NPT8O10/edit?usp=sharing 

Thanks in advance!

Sincerely, 

the bumbling biochemist