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Guidelines For Keeping A Laboratory Notebook

The document provides guidelines for keeping an effective laboratory notebook. Key points include: - The notebook should be bound, with numbered pages to prevent lost or fraudulent information. Ink, not pencil, should be used to record all data. - Each experiment entry should include the date, title, purpose, detailed materials and methods, observations and results with any tables/graphs, and a discussion/conclusion. - The notebook must be maintained regularly by recording all information as soon as possible, attaching data, and planning future experiments to ensure the notebook clearly documents all methods and results over time.

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73 views2 pages

Guidelines For Keeping A Laboratory Notebook

The document provides guidelines for keeping an effective laboratory notebook. Key points include: - The notebook should be bound, with numbered pages to prevent lost or fraudulent information. Ink, not pencil, should be used to record all data. - Each experiment entry should include the date, title, purpose, detailed materials and methods, observations and results with any tables/graphs, and a discussion/conclusion. - The notebook must be maintained regularly by recording all information as soon as possible, attaching data, and planning future experiments to ensure the notebook clearly documents all methods and results over time.

Uploaded by

gekkolp
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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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
Bound
Loose Leaf

Advantages
No lost sheets
Proof against fraud
Group experiments
Maintain order

Disadvantages
No logical order
Sheets lost
Harder to prove authenticity

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
Title
Date
Page Number
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
DIAP1 and the amount of cell death.)
5. Materials and Methods
Protocol
Written
Pasted
May refer to previous protocol in notebook (note any changes)
Write before you begin procedure
Amend as you go through the experiment
List any calculations
6. Observations and Results
Everything that happens or doesnt 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
7. Discussion and Conclusion
Discuss results and implications of data.
Prepare a conclusion. How did the experiment go?
What to do next?

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 Table of Contents
7. Make plan for the following week

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