Today in #EquippedToExperiment (series where I take you on a tour of my #biochemistry “lab 🏡” (link 2 all eps 👇)) I’ll show you some our #BiochemicalBlenders - & hopefully not blunders!

Centrifuges, vortexers, shaker platforms, & more! #scicomm THREADhttps://t.co/x5oVncEIIf

— Brianna Bibel (@biochem_bri) May 6, 2018

Our main “blender” is the centrifuge. A centrifuge is a piece of equipment that spins really fast, pulling heavier molecules out of solutions and leaving you with a solid pellet and liquid (supernatant) on top. #EquippedToExperiment #BiochemicalBlenders n/n pic.twitter.com/c3ohNuXaRU

— Brianna Bibel (@biochem_bri) May 6, 2018

The amount of separation you get depends on how fast you spin, and we have lots of types of centrifuges for different purposes. #EquippedToExperiment #BiochemicalBlenders n/n

— Brianna Bibel (@biochem_bri) May 6, 2018

Centrifuges come in lots of different sizes, and within those different sizes, you can use different inserts to hold different size tubes, bottles, or even plates. #EquippedToExperiment #BiochemicalBlenders n/n pic.twitter.com/pNcZ6Iv7ns

— Brianna Bibel (@biochem_bri) May 6, 2018

We use the bigger ones for things like separating insect cells expressing our protein from the media we grow them in (we call this harvesting). More on this 👇 #EquippedToExperiment #BiochemicalBlenders n/nhttps://t.co/ndxDEY1eIz

— Brianna Bibel (@biochem_bri) May 6, 2018

We use the medium ones 4 things like concentrating proteins. You put your sample in top chamber of these concentrators & spin them. ▶️ Small molecules are pulled through but bigger molecules stay in upper chamber ⏩ concentrated 👇 #EquippedToExperiment #BiochemicalBlenders n/n pic.twitter.com/bNdpTF5U8i

— Brianna Bibel (@biochem_bri) May 6, 2018

We also have microcentrifuges that we use with, you guessed it - microcentrifuge tubes! (for more on tubes: https://t.co/e2CxBUt9Gi ) #EquippedToExperiment #BiochemicalBlenders n/n pic.twitter.com/zob9eA3JbX

— Brianna Bibel (@biochem_bri) May 6, 2018

Centrifuges can be “fixed angle” or “swinging bucket.” You can think of swinging bucket as kinda like swing rides at amusement parks where the seat can move & fixed rotor would be more like the teacups where the “seat” can’t move #EquippedToExperiment #BiochemicalBlenders n/n pic.twitter.com/MqtnsHGudK

— Brianna Bibel (@biochem_bri) May 6, 2018

Some of our centrifuges have coolers so we can control the temperature. This is important when working with temperature-sensitive things like proteins. #EquippedToExperiment #BiochemicalBlenders n/n pic.twitter.com/pus2nm2sHP

— Brianna Bibel (@biochem_bri) May 6, 2018

So far, I’ve shown you “regular” centrifuges, but we also have “ultracentrifuges” that go even faster. We use these during protein preparation to separate soluble proteins from "cell gunk" More on this 👇 #EquippedToExperiment #BiochemicalBlenders n/nhttps://t.co/YH8B3NiE1U

— Brianna Bibel (@biochem_bri) May 6, 2018

We also have centrifuges that go slower. Why would you want that? Sometimes, you just need to draw liquid drops off the sides of small tubes -> just want something quick & gentle. These “pulse” centrifuges are great for this. #EquippedToExperiment #BiochemicalBlenders n/n pic.twitter.com/lzW9uFiUib

— Brianna Bibel (@biochem_bri) May 6, 2018

These pulse centrifuges only have one set speed but you can let it spin as long as you need & quickly get your samples in & out (centrifuges that spin faster take longer to wind down) #EquippedToExperiment #BiochemicalBlenders n/n pic.twitter.com/P8Q6PZ5yX2

— Brianna Bibel (@biochem_bri) May 6, 2018

I often use the pulse centrifuge after “finger vortexing” - basically I just flick the bottom of a microcentrifuge tube to create a mini tornado-like vortex in the liquid that mixes it nicely (but also leaves drops on tube walls) #EquippedToExperiment #BiochemicalBlenders n/n

— Brianna Bibel (@biochem_bri) May 6, 2018

If I want a “real” vortex, we have vortexers that vibrate really fast when you push on them. Great 4 resuspending pellets in a new liquid after you’ve centrifuged them out of their old liquid (also “great” 4 making your arm go numb) #EquippedToExperiment #BiochemicalBlenders n/n pic.twitter.com/rg5FYHhDOj

— Brianna Bibel (@biochem_bri) May 6, 2018

Need to spin yourself? We have swivel chairs for that 🙂 (and my feet even reach the floor with some of them)#EquippedToExperiment #BiochemicalBlenders n/n pic.twitter.com/bVdPABAnIW

— Brianna Bibel (@biochem_bri) May 6, 2018

But remember Officer Buckle’s words of wisdom - never stand on a swivel chair! Use a step stool instead (#TheBumblingBiochemist's sidekick Steppy the Stepstool often comes to her rescue) (and/or find someone tall) #EquippedToExperiment #BiochemicalBlenders n/n pic.twitter.com/6BKZt2Jda6

— Brianna Bibel (@biochem_bri) May 6, 2018

Sometimes you want to roll, not spin, and for this we have a “hotdog roller” - I use it when binding proteins to resin to make sure all the protein and resin have a chance to meet. More on this 👇 #EquippedToExperiment #BiochemicalBlenders n/nhttps://t.co/pXWwtw0Sr9

— Brianna Bibel (@biochem_bri) May 6, 2018

If you want to somersault not hot dog roll, we have an end-over-end rotator for microcentrifuge tubes. #EquippedToExperiment #BiochemicalBlenders n/n pic.twitter.com/uejJw6xLB7

— Brianna Bibel (@biochem_bri) May 6, 2018

If you want to rock, not roll, we have a rocking platform we use when staining & de-staining gels that we use to separate our proteins (more on these gels here 👉 https://t.co/a8GFTi7VIe ) . #EquippedToExperiment #BiochemicalBlenders n/n pic.twitter.com/ulZ3Oz8QCS

— Brianna Bibel (@biochem_bri) May 6, 2018

We make lots of solutions and need to make sure that they get thoroughly mixed, so we use magnetic stir bars that get spun by magnetic stir plates #EquippedToExperiment #BiochemicalBlenders n/n pic.twitter.com/cqqc9ttENf

— Brianna Bibel (@biochem_bri) May 6, 2018

For those who like things shaken, not stirred, we have shaking incubators in many sizes. We use these when growing bacterial cultures & insect cell cultures (NOT the same ones) to keep the temperature constant and the cells aerated. #EquippedToExperiment #BiochemicalBlenders n/n pic.twitter.com/P8czOoxmd4

— Brianna Bibel (@biochem_bri) May 6, 2018

f you want more gentle orbital motion, we have orbital shaker platforms that move in circles (and we use heavy weights to keep our plates from flying off!). #EquippedToExperiment #BiochemicalBlenders n/n pic.twitter.com/p8hS9QjyiM

— Brianna Bibel (@biochem_bri) May 6, 2018

And, just like we really do have regular microwaves, fridges, freezers, and tupperware ( https://t.co/TxEiVV9DpF ), we also have a regular blender! #EquippedToExperiment #BiochemicalBlenders n/n pic.twitter.com/AkkEjbqdo7

— Brianna Bibel (@biochem_bri) May 6, 2018

Don't think this blender’s been used in decades but I like to think it was used for something exciting like the Hershey-Chase experiment showing DNA to be the source of genetic information! I am at @CSHL… #EquippedToExperiment #BiochemicalBlenders n/n https://t.co/ErkIY42UJI

— Brianna Bibel (@biochem_bri) May 6, 2018