In the last #EquippedToExperiment subthread, I showed you some of our glassware, now for a tour of our not-so-glass-ware. Here’s a look at some of the disposable “tupperware” we use to store our samples and solutions. #EquippedToExperiment #TechnicalTupperware 1/n
— Brianna Bibel (@biochem_bri) April 19, 2018
Like “Tupperware,” some of the plastic tubes we use we tend to call by their brand name (or what was once their brand name - generics usually work fine!). For example, the Falcon tube (aka conical). #EquippedToExperiment #TechnicalTupperware 2/n
— Brianna Bibel (@biochem_bri) April 19, 2018
Conical ("Falcon") tubes come in multiple sizes (e.g. 50mL & 15mL) & like their name implies, have cone-shaped bottoms ⏩ 👍 4 some things (like mixing by finger flicking ⏩ creates mini-tornado) but 👎 for others (like standing) #EquippedToExperiment #TechnicalTupperware 3/n pic.twitter.com/IdVkMVQY7K
— Brianna Bibel (@biochem_bri) April 19, 2018
Another example of the “Kleenex 4 tissue" generic trademark phenomenon: the “eppendorf” tube. (Did you “Google” it? 🙃) #EquippedToExperiment #TechnicalTupperware 4/n
— Brianna Bibel (@biochem_bri) April 19, 2018
More properly “microcentrifuge tubes,” eppendorfs are like mini versions of the conical tubes that have hinged lids, hold ~1.5mL & (no surprise) are sized to fit in microcentrifuges (or microcentrifuges were designed to fit them…) #EquippedToExperiment #TechnicalTupperware 5/n pic.twitter.com/2qNdbiJD4n
— Brianna Bibel (@biochem_bri) April 19, 2018
Eppendorf tubes are probably one of our lab's most used item because we usually work with (relatively) small volumes. #EquippedToExperiment #TechnicalTupperware 6/n pic.twitter.com/KvmWXlJWO6
— Brianna Bibel (@biochem_bri) April 19, 2018
Sometime we need to hold even smaller amounts of liquid, so we have even smaller tubes, PCR tubes - these are like mini eppendorfs (hold ~0.2mL). Some have attached caps & some caps come separately. They often come in strips. #EquippedToExperiment #TechnicalTupperware 7/n pic.twitter.com/8OsSItKN6D
— Brianna Bibel (@biochem_bri) April 19, 2018
All these tubes with cone-shaped bottoms need help standing up, so we have racks to hold them while we work. #EquippedToExperiment #TechnicalTupperware 8/n pic.twitter.com/KuXSwRDvvt
— Brianna Bibel (@biochem_bri) April 19, 2018
We also have “freezer boxes” to hold them for longer-term storage. #EquippedToExperiment #TechnicalTupperware 9/n pic.twitter.com/05LZc3JD6v
— Brianna Bibel (@biochem_bri) April 19, 2018
Need to squirt? No problem. We have squirt bottles for that - they’re great for holding water, ethanol for cleaning, soap etc. #EquippedToExperiment #TechnicalTupperware 10/n pic.twitter.com/aPrRigHOJe
— Brianna Bibel (@biochem_bri) April 19, 2018
Can’t forget the Petri dish! We pour agar plates in these (gel-like beds for growing bacteria) #EquippedToExperiment #TechnicalTupperware 11/n pic.twitter.com/9eeH1au0Bs
— Brianna Bibel (@biochem_bri) April 19, 2018
Speaking of growing bacteria, we also have culture tubes that are like the Falcon tubes but they have vented lids so the bacteria can breathe. #EquippedToExperiment #TechnicalTupperware 12/n pic.twitter.com/7dIOxTmT2y
— Brianna Bibel (@biochem_bri) April 19, 2018
We also have sandwich-box-like gel boxes for staining (and de-staining) gels #EquippedToExperiment #TechnicalTupperware 13/n pic.twitter.com/1PTzodCidH
— Brianna Bibel (@biochem_bri) April 19, 2018
And sometimes we really do use Tupperware (or Rubbermaid!) #EquippedToExperiment #TechnicalTupperware 14/n pic.twitter.com/LoOU28gTeh
— Brianna Bibel (@biochem_bri) April 19, 2018
