While work is being done to finish entering and then to proof the data from the fall 2014 field seasons (plural because my lab was working at 3 different sites this fall), I have gone full throttle into my lab work. I have been focusing on organizing my samples from last spring and running assays to quantify testosterone levels. Over the summer I was able to get one set of testosterone assays done in addition to completing the genetic sexing for all spring samples. But with over 250 samples to determine testosterone on, I had a lot of work ahead of me. ![]() Now I bore you with general info about the assays. Each assay can run 32 samples and I run two assays at a time (because...talent. Well, not really, that's pretty standard). So 64 samples at a time thus needing 4 runs total. Each assay takes 4 days to complete and 3 of these must be sequential. Oh, and also, in addition to the 250 samples that I need testosterone on, I also need to run about 60 samples for another hormone, corticosterone. So add on another ![]() With some hard work and long hours and weekends in the lab I have been able to get 3 of my 5 runs done in the last few weeks. Yay for data!! Now, this last testosterone assay that I run will be (with any luck) my LAST TESTOSTERONE ASSAY. Like for my entire dissertation. Which is in one way very, very exciting but in another, very, ![]() ![]() My plan over the next couple weeks is to get everything from my last three sets of assays into my master Excel file (and then back it up). Then I need to re-evaluate the sample sizes that I have for each of the various questions/tests I have going on and decide which are good enough and which need more samples. The 8 Swainson's Thrushes that I sampled this fall will be included so with two samples from each bird (pre- and post-experiment) that's 16 of 64 available slots. With 48 slots left, I have some decisions to make. Off to enter data now. ~Kristen |
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