Around My Neck

I got the funniest compliment yesterday. (No. Not from a guy. Sigh!) But I’ll tell you the compliment later.
Can you see what I’m wearing around my neck?

Yeah, a necklace, but not just any necklace. This one is really special because of what’s in it. Wanna closer look?

That tiny snotty-looking blob (that you can hardly see) floating in the liquid is MY DNA. This was our “experiment” yesterday in biotech class. It was nice to have a simple project instead of the usual lab experiments I do in my labs. We used cells from the inside of our cheeks and followed an easy protocol adding a few solutions, heated it and VOILA. There’s my blob.

To get back to the compliment…I noticed that my DNA wasn’t looking like everyone else’s around me. Theirs were a condensed blog and mine had strings hanging down, looking kinda like a jellyfish. I showed it to the professor to see if I did something wrong. She started saying how cool is was and that mine was the coolest DNA she’d ever seen. (Pretty funny compliment, huh? I’ll take any I can get though!) So of course everyone gathered around and wanted to see it. I’m sure they weren’t impressed. Hehe Sorry no picture. I didn’t take my camera to class. The professor thinks it was because I poured in the alcohol so slowly. The protocol said slowly. Guess I just took longer doing it than others. Then I swirled mine around the end of a pipette and sucked some of it out for this necklace. Now it’s more of a very little blob.

I showed it to my kids and they didn’t think it was that exciting. I guess it’s just me and my fellow science geeks in class that think it’s cool. The girl sitting next to me even said, “This is the funnest thing I’ve done since high school.” (That had to be like a year ago for her!) Cracked me UP!

If you really want one, you can buy a kit and do it at home. You can even have a DNA party with this kit for 32 people for about $46. (It uses Gatorade and we used a different solution, but the reviews all say it works well.) Even elementary-aged kids can do it!

Since this is a short post and just in case there is one other science geek reading this who might appreciate these...

 You send in a cheek swab sample and they run it through a gel electrophoresis (which I have done with my DNA, but didn't get to keep a copy of it) and they print it small or as a large Giclee fine art piece. I love these!!! I am such a nerd!

  http://www.dna11.com/ 

Then some more jewelry.

http://morphologica.com.au/ 

http://www.etsy.com/shop/molecularmuse

Delicious Greek Orzo

When I spotted this recipe at Taste Buds , I knew I wanted to make it. I remembered that I made a delicious orzo salad before, but didn't realize how similar it was. They did have distinct flavors even though many of the ingredients are the same and I like them both. I would have loved to have kalamata olives in it, but they're a bit of a splurge right now since I'm the only one here who likes them. I'm about to eat some of the leftovers for lunch today.
Delicious Greek Orzo

1 c. uncooked orzo
1/2 c. diced cucumber, seeds removed
1/3 c. diced red onion
1/3 c. fresh minced parsley
3 T. freshly squeezed lemon juice
1 T. olive oil
1 t. dried oregano
1/2 t. salt
1/4 t. pepper
1 c. diced tomato (optional)
1/2 c. crumbled feta cheese
1/4 cup chopped, pitted Kalamata (or black) olives

Cook orzo according to package. Drain. Combine orzo, cucumber and onion in a large bowl; toss well. In a separate bowl combine parsley, lemon juice, oregano, olive oil, salt and pepper. Stir well with a whisk until incorporated. Pour over orzo and add remaining ingredients. Toss gently to coat. Serve with grilled pita bread brushed with olive oil and sprinkled with a little kosher salt and warmed through on grill.