eh

Today in microbiology lab, we streaked unknown gram negative bacteria that we had grown two weeks prior onto a culture plate. It is a simple task that usually requires one to flame an innoculation loop until red-hot, pick a colony of bacteria from either a slant or plate, swirl it into the appropriate medium, and then streaking a bit of the liquid onto a plate. It takes maybe two minutes, depending on how long you flame the loop.

I sit in a semi-walled off area, at least socially, since my three lab group mates are collectively known as the Married Christian Bros. Across from me are four members of a Mean-Girls-esque clique. I mostly keep to myself and perform the experiments quietly without saying much of anything to anyone. And then I leave when I've collected all of the pertinent information and completed the proper experiments--usually with 30-45 minutes (it's a 2-hour lab) to spare depending on the day. My lab instructor remarked to me once, "Looks like you're on a mission." My mission is always to get out as efficiently as possible so I can study. 

Today, we streaked with swabs and not sterile loops. I knew this because I had done the pre-reading exercises and had a good idea of what to do during lab time. One of the Married Bros asked me if we needed to steak with the loop instead, and I quietly said, "No. Use the swab." The Mean Girls overheard and said, "Um, I'm preeeetty sure you use the loop." And then proceeded to attempt to light her busnsen burner with the flint. She has never succeeded, and has always used my flame across the table. So unsurprisingly, she asked me to light her bunsen burner for her. For some reason, this amused me greatly and I lit it for her with one strike of the flint.

So she proceeded to flame her loop, pick her colonies, and swirl the media to the right turbidity (cloudiness). The instructor walked by and said, "That will take you forever. Use the swab." I didn't show any reaction, as I had my head down writing observations. The Mean Girls said, "Guess who was right?" I didn't look up, so I'm not sure they were meaning me.

I wonder sometimes if I have a reputation in micro lab as being a gunner. I don't particularly mind it, since I'm currently doing quite well in that class. Any class in which I can make something with my hands, describe it with my words, and draw it, is right up my alley. If med school consisted entirely of lab practicals, I would 'honors' every class (yes, it's a verb...sort of. It just means score either in the top 15% or above 90-95%, whichever is used as the benchmark for the class.)

 Anyways, back to studying pharmacology. This 3-week unit covered anticonvulsants, anxiolytics, anti-neoplastics, opioids, renal drugs, anesthetics, local anesthetics, drugs for management of neurodegenerative diseases, antipsychotics, and antidepressants.