Cloudy with a Chance of Lysis

It’s been three weeks, I’ve tested three soil samples, and I’ve received three negatives. Three cloudy plates containing no phage whatsoever. Today, I spent half of lab time collecting four new samples from around the Baylor campus. By next week, I’ll get to know if I have any phage.

Needless to say, many of my friends have asked me what I do in this “research biology” course. As I describe the process of isolating soil samples, testing them on arthrobacter cultures, and waiting to see if the tell-tale clear spots have appeared, most people quickly move to the next question: “Have you found one yet?” And for the past few weeks, the answer has been a reluctant no. Now, most people react with condolences, like I’ve just got a C on a big test. “Don’t worry, I’m sure you’ll get it soon.” “Even though you wasted a couple of weeks, I’m sure it will work out for you.”

But have I wasted a couple weeks? What exactly have I accomplished? We live in a results-oriented world. People measure others by their awards, accomplishments, proof, etc. For three weeks of work, I have very little to show. I swabbed some soil onto some plates and didn’t find anything. But as Dr. Gibbon explained to us in the first week, one can’t measure success in science simply by results. The scientific process is as important as the scientific result. I’ve resolved to avoid being disappointed about my experience so far – instead, I view it as time spent well. I was able to understand the process of phage-hunting, I learned the techniques involved, I gained hands-on lab experience. In comparison with my results-oriented traditional chemistry lab (follow pre-ordered steps to obtain a known result), I’m truly embarking into an unknown frontier of science.

And yet, are there any specific lessons I can learn? What can I take away that can then inform my future lab adventures? Is it that my growing conditions are not right? Dr. Adair has been suggesting various modifications to these. Is it that I’m not picking the right soil areas? I tried some really strange places this second time around. What more can I do to improve my forecast? Can I learn from these “failures” and apply my new understanding to my next set of attempts? My goal is to find clues, landmarks if you will, for the next set of explorers of this frontier. If my negative plates can result in greater understanding of even how to find phages, I would consider my results a smashing success.