Since moving to Texas I have been working full-time in a radiation oncology lab that specializes in breast cancer research. Many people (outside of the medical/science community) probably have no idea what working in a lab entails, so I thought I'd use this post to fill all of you non-science geeks in on what I do everyday.
The first thing I usually do when I get to work (after checking e-mails and finishing my coffee) is I go to the basement to check on my mice. Yes, mice. Right now I am conducting a large scale animal study on the effects certain drugs have on chemotherapy. Chemotherapy, although often very effective at killing cells, does not specifically target cancer cells. That means it ends up killing off many of the rapidly dividing cells in your body--hence hair loss, weight loss and a weakened immune system. The study I'm currently working on seeks to find drugs that will "protect" normal cells from chemotherapy.
This is a nude mouse that looks remarkably similar to the nude mice I work with. Every morning I have to weigh all of the mice and measure their mammary tumors. I also have to inject them with certain drugs and occasionally sacrifice them if they are very sick. I promise you we do this in the most humane way possible. I'm also in charge of keeping up-to-date spreadsheets that graph their weights and tumor sizes.
The second half of my day usually revolves around more mice--this time mice with hair! I am in charge of tagging, weaning and running PCR on our transgenic mice. Transgenic mice are mice that have been genetically modified to express certain genes. Because not all of the mice in a litter will express the same genes, it is my job to analyze their DNA and determine which ones express which genes. Once we know their genotype we can use them to investigate different things.
I hope this kinda helps sum up my work day! I know I jokingly talk about taking care of mice, but in reality animal studies like this are fundamental when it comes to cancer research. If my present study works out the way I hope, it could potentially have clinical applications which would be very exciting.
So there's an average workday in the life of me! I hope you enjoy reading my blog and if you have any questions let me know! Time for Toddlers and Tiaras..
