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Chapter 3

Basic Skills of the Biotechnology Workplace

Measuring volumes:

Volume is a measurement of the amount of space something


occupies.

Unit : Liters (L), milliliters (ml) or microliters (µl)

1 ml = 1/1000 L

1 µl = 1/1000 ml

Depending on the volume to be measured instruments used may be


a. graduated cylinders
b. pipets
c. micropipets

Measurement in the science lab is done in the metric system which


can be calculated in multiples of ten.

If a scientist is measuring volumes greater than 10 mls he will use


a graduated cylinder.

For volumes under 10 mls and down to 0.5ml, a pipet is used.


When pipeting always use a pipet pump to fill and empty the
pipet. The pipet pump will evacuate the air in the pipet forming a
vacuum that causes the liquid to rise in the pipet.

For volumes less than 1ml, a micropipette is used. A micropipette


measures in µl or microliters which are one thousandths of a ml.
Picking and using the appropriate micropipette

P-100 or P – 200 micropipette

Used for measurements from 100 µl to 10 µl and between 200 µl


and 20 µl respectively.

The plunger can sit at any one of three positions:


Position 1 is Position 2 is reached by Position 3 is reached
where the pipette pushing down on the plunger by pushing down
is at rest until resistance is met from position 2

To Draw Up Liquid

To remove the last drop of liquid from the tip, push down to Position 3. If delivering into
a liquid, remove the tip from the liquid before releasing the plunger

Hold the micropipette with the thumb resting on the plunger and the fingers curled
around the upper body.

Keeping the plunger at the second


Steadily release pressure on the plunger
position, place the tip attached to the
and allow it to return to Position 1. Do
end of the micropipette beneath the
Push down this carefully, particularly with large
surface of the liquid to be drawn up. Try
with the volumes, as the liquid may shoot up into
not to push right to the bottom
thumb until the tip and the body of the micropipette.
(especially if you are removing
Position 2 is If bubbles appear in the tip, return the
supernatant from a centrifuged pellet),
reached. liquid to the container by pushing down
but ensure that the tip is far enough
to Position 3 and start again (you may
below the surface of the liquid that no
need to change to a dry tip).
air is drawn up.
Making solutions
Making solutions is one if the most common jobs in the lab. Most
solutions made will be aqueous solutions where water is the
dissolving agent or solvent, and the substances are being dissolved
are the solutes.

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