by We might as well start this off by stating a simple fact; I am a master in the art of pipetting. Through years of sports demanding hand-eye coordination, my precision is impeccable. It is so satisfying to be able to pick up such a tiny amount of liquid, such as 1 microliter, and create a landscape of all the organisms’ DNA the fluid holds! However, the few times I have pipetted in the past, I was on flat ground, on land, in perfect light, with plenty of room for mistakes. Aboard the Sikuliaq, these conditions are nowhere near the same, making my previously on point precision a little wonky. Of course, the day we begin pipetting DNA, which as you can imagine is tiny, a storm decides to break out. Anne-Lise, the microbiologist on board, had to ask me to basically hold her and her instruments into place. Samples and instruments scattered on the work bench as the current moved us side to side, forwards and backwards. It is easy to say that after this experiment, I am humbled regarding my skills.
Alyson Bovee
