NanoBio: Notebook

=Guidelines for Keeping a Laboratory Notebook=

Purpose of Notebook

 * To record methods and results of your experiments so that:
 * you can go back and figure out what you did
 * another person can interpret your results (The lab notebook is important in patent review)
 * Therefore, a notebook must be clear and thorough

Ownership

 * Generally, the notebook should not leave the laboratory
 * The notebook belongs to the lab and institution

Type and Format of Notebook
1. Bound vs. Loose Leaf
 * The bound notebook is the gold standard and will be adopted in our laboratory
 * What to look for in a bound notebook:
 * Bound
 * 8-1/2 x 11" (Able to attach photographs & printouts)
 * Numbered pages
 * Gridded pages

2. Ink not pencil & Mistakes
 * Ballpoint pen with black ink is best
 * Pencil writing can be erased (harder to prove authenticity)
 * Write legibly
 * Mistakes? Cross them out with a single line. White-Out and blacking out is not acceptable.

Content of the Laboratory Notebook
1. Table of Contents - Save first three pages of notebook for TOC 2. Date of Experiment 3. Title of Experiment (e.g., Serial knock-down of DIAP1 by RNAi) 4. Purpose (e.g., To determine the relationship between the amount of RNA- used against DNAP1 and the amount of cell death.) 5. Materials and Methods 6. Observations and Results 7. Discussion and Conclusion
 * Title
 * Date
 * Page Number
 * Articulate specific questions or goals
 * Protocol
 * Written
 * Pasted
 * May refer to previous protocol in notebook (note any changes)
 * Write before you begin the procedure
 * Amend as you go through the experiment
 * List any calculations
 * Important: Describe contents of all numbered tubes; Tubes should have systematic numbering
 * Everything that happens or doesn't happen is data
 * Any writing that will facilitate data entry should be planned out in advance
 * Results may include:
 * Tables
 * Charts
 * Graphs
 * Printouts
 * Pictures
 * Gels
 * Films
 * Calculations
 * '''Important: All computer-based data must be centrally stored and systematically named
 * Discuss results and implications of data. Specifically answer the questions or state progress towards goals.
 * Prepare a conclusion. How did the experiment go? What were the unanswered questions or possible improvements?
 * What to do next? The steps...

Maintenance
1. Record everything ASAP 2. Weekly Check-Up 3. Attach data/printout/films 4. Create tables and graphs 5. Summary for the Week 6. Record experiment in the Table of Contents 7. Make plan for the following week
 * Konstantin Malley 14:22, 19 June 2009 (EDT):

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