DNA Melting Report Requirements
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Revision as of 20:13, 16 November 2011 by Steven Nagle (Talk | contribs)
Report outline
Use the following format for your report:
- Results
- Samples run
- List all of the samples you characterized (length/match/ionic strength)
- Data plots
- All plots should be complete with title, axis labels, and legend. Plot both your experimental data and the best fit curves from the DNA melting mode. Plots in this section should include only data that was created by your group's own hands in the lab. Analysis of other people's datasets belongs in a different section (see below).
- Single set of axes with plots of dsDNA concentration versus temperature for ALL raw data from all "known" samples that you ran.
- Single set of axes with plots of ΔdsDNA concentration/Δtemperature for same.
- Similar figure, single axes, showing results for unknown sample, possibly including other samples run for comparison.
- Repeat the form of the first two plots to show comparisons of your thermodynamic model fitted to each average of your three experimental runs, for each data type. Also include the "expected" results that you simulated using DINAmelt for each sample type. These plots should be in the "ideal" format, that is, apply corrections to your data, average the three runs for each sample type, and compare each of those averaged, corrected responses to the ideal response obtained using your fitted deltaS and deltaH in the thermodynamic model. You may also include an example or two of plots in the "as-observed" format showing *corrected model* responses compared to *as-observed* experimental responses.
- Finally, include averaged, corrected data and a modeled response for your unknown sample either on the above dsDNA and ΔdsDNA plots, or in separate plots.
- Table of estimated thermodynamic parameters for each sample. Include estimated ΔH, ΔS, and Tm values (by multiple methods)
- Comparative data analysis and plots
- Plots of any data you analyzed that came from other groups
- Data analysis overview
- Bullet point summary of your data analysis methodology.
- Discussion of results
- Bullet point discussion of results. Compare your results to theoretical models and/or other group's datasets. Be concise, but express yourself clearly.
- Sources of error
- Detailed discussion of error sources. Indicate whether each source causes a systematic or random distortion in the data. (The uncertainty from a random error decreases with additional experimental runs; systematic error does not.)
- Instrument documentation
- Block diagram and schematics
- Include component values, relevant distances, and possibly a photographs or two. It is not necessary to document construction details, but do show your work in determining your component values, distances, etc.
- Signal to noise results
- Design evolution
- Bullet point summary of changes you made to your instrument design to address problems in the lab.
Lab manual sections
- DNA Melting: Simulating DNA Melting - Basics
- DNA Melting Part 1: Measuring Temperature and Fluorescence
- DNA Melting Report Requirements for Part 1
- DNA Melting: Simulating DNA Melting - Intermediate Topics
- DNA Melting Part 2: Lock-in Amplifier and Temperature Control
- DNA Melting Report Requirements for Part 2