Yes I cut their heads and legs off and extract DNA and ascorbic acid from them. I also analyse their poop!!

No I'm working on beetles.

Stuff - who are you - that's freaky.

Yes I had to write one for the end of December - I've handed it in already, got it out the way.

I think.

I've done lots of reading too, and have planned methods of sampling my beasties (which doesn't start till May). I've also done some molecular work to analyse material sent to me by nice people who collected insects for me over the summer.I've had some sood results from that (after two months of crap results - but the techniques were new to me!!) Other students said they hadn't even started paractical work till the new year.

I'm finishing on the 20th too.

Hi guys, what stage were you in three months into your PhD?? I have no idea whether I'm working well or falling behind!!

I'm taking three weeks off for Christmas/New Year - ten days will be spent reading, the rest I will have off. My experiment has went well and I have some good results already, so I can afford to relax.

My departments Christmas party is going to be a riot!! I've helped organise a cocktail and punch hour before our the official Chrimbo lunch in the hope that it will loosen lips for the meal. Won't have to worry about buying drinks either - the lecturers all pay!!

Alan Rickman?? Don't you mean DENNIS Rickman!?

Read this srticle:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/526107.stm

I think the farmers name says it all - describes what an a*shole he is.

Well it did initially, but then when I ran the DNA on a gel I found contamination with Platform shoe RNA.

Yep he is the one with the black hair - not Charlie who went on to form Fightstar - the crap band you were on about.

Hi, can anyone recommend a good kit for the extraction of protein from whole insects??

Thanks xxx