So, within my first couple of weeks on the job, a hard drive crashed in this area where the smart people work with ethidium bromide. The lab assistant escorted me in there and gave me gloves to wear. I was kinda excited to wear them, but it was also a hassle. If I needed to type on my own computer, I would have to take them off, and back and forth.
It was a few days of working on this computer, and one day I was sitting on the floor in the room. Had my laptop out and the broken computer open. Someone walked by and made a horrible face and said “you probably shouldnt be sitting on the floor like that… here, let me get you something to sit on.”
Seriously? I had no idea what this stuff really was and how bad it was for me. But if I die at an early age and you suspect it wasnt from all the french fries, it may be the ethidium bromide.
My coworker, Rob, seems to think its no big deal… as he once stuck his entire hand in ethidium bromide and he’s still kickin it (and running marathons!). But still, I know I havent been as careful as I apparently should be with a mutagen that could be a carcinogen. Maybe I’ll just develop a spidey sense, or the ability to turn everything I touch purple (awesome).
13th Feb 2009 | 12:44 pm
Leave a Comment
8 Comments to “It Had To Be You”
angela
Maybe the reason Rob has running man super powers is BECAUSE he stuck his hand in it …
jd
It’s no big deal.
Sabrina
Angela! You’re so smart!! That must be it!
Cristin
Only at Duke.
angela
And if that’s the case, where’s the ethidium bromide and can you get me some?
Coworker Rob
Lemme tell you about my experiences w/ mouth pipetting…
angela
I don’t even know what mouth pipetting IS … but I’m suddenly intrigued … kind of.
christin
I cannot even tell you the joy it brings me that you’re blogging again.
It’s been too long, my purple one.