Online video resource for "budding" yeast researchers. - (Apr/03/2012 )

Hi everyone!

We are putting together an online video resource to help people who are interested in getting into yeast, bacteria, or fungal research.

Over the next few weeks and months we'll be adding videos, starting with the basics - "What is yeast?" and progressing to tutorials, explanations of the science and relevance of microbiology research, and interviews with some of the leading figures in microbiology.

Our first video "What is yeast?" is available here, as well as some footage from the British Yeast Group 2012 meeting in Edinburgh, with delegates telling us why they love yeast!

Hope you enjoy them, and please let us know if there's anything you'd like to see in the future!

Nice idea, but for me it looks - sorry to say that, and not meant as an insult - quite amateurish (e.g. actors look like students just coming out of the lab, but the scenery and talk anyway appears quite "posed", wiggly camera work, an ugly indoor plant, etc)...
To get an idea how professional videos can look like have a look here (just as an example): TED

Hi Everyone!

Here is the next in our series of 'How To' videos.

This time we're showing how to prepare and pour YPD agar plates. Click here.

Hope you enjoy, and as always, please let us know your comments and suggestions!

"You are not authorised to view this resource.
You need to login."

And I wondered if the moustache dude was again there...

Link is fixed!

Click here.

Singer Instruments on Mon Apr 30 08:09:29 2012 said:

I do not like that "extra voice" that repeats how much grams you need.. I like it that they show it again, how much you need, but the voice, its a bit irritating. It sounds a bit like old video games.

Also: I do not like it that the drops everything in the same plastic scale without emptying it after every step. The reason why I say this is that because many (new) people in the lab will add too much of a certain component and then they need to remove some of it... and knowing other components are also on the scale.. it could get difficult to remove what you want to remove.
ALso: when pouring the components in your bottle, in such a filled scale, you will spill more likely. Its easier to poor less powder in a bottle.
But anyway,this is just a detail and I guess its harder to film it like I mentioned.

Another note: pouring it on a bench, not in a cabinet.. I know this is done in many labs..but I wonder if its a good idea for students or new people in the lab to do it like this...
I am assuming that the video is ment for students/new people?

Also: the bottle, he opened it, but didnt move the top of the bottle through the flame prior to closing it.. something pretty standard.


But again: it all depends on what you want to archieve and to whom the video is ment.


And 1 more thing: why not put a written "script" of the movie online? (written script: I mean the protocol used by your actors?)

I agree to pito's comments...especially the extra voice is annoying and additionally:

<*>After autoclaving the bottle is much emptier (you see it when you compare the liquid level at the autoclave tape before and after autoclaving): overboiling or just another bottle?
<*>Always using the same spatula for all ingredients?
<*>Is everything just easily dissolving when mixing this heap of chemicals together with the water? or any additional measures? This step was completely left out.

Singer Instruments on Fri Apr 27 08:15:53 2012 said:

I think that it's pretty nice that you guys are coming out with these how-to videos (and that cool moustache) ...and for some more comments from bioforum's Statler and Waldorf:

<*>Instead of that retro male voice echo, perhaps you can try a mellow female one....
<*>Dr Yeast (a nerdy version of Adam Levine but with a better voice and accent) was wearing two different lab coats and both of them completely unbuttoned. The health and safety officer does not like this. The lab coat shld be buttoned down (or is it buttoned up?), though it could be a high-end fashion lab accessory, it should still serve its protective function....
<*>as a side note, there's some resultant condensation, hence, the foggy lids, after pouring the agar...perhaps you can also comment on how to dry the agar plates and their storage.......(finish the story a little bit, dude....)

Hi everyone!

Thank you for your comments so far; we appreciate you offering your opinions as it will help us improve our videos. We understand that different labs and individuals do things slightly differently, and whilst we can't include every detail or variation, we try hard to give a good overall illustration of the basic processes. 'Dr Yeast' sends his regards to you all!

The next in the series will be 'How to dissect a tetrad' which should be coming this month.

Keep watching, and thanks for all your input!

Singer Instruments on Tue May 8 08:23:39 2012 said:

You're welcome, Dr Yeast (perhaps we shld call you Dr Beer, instead )...and we're looking forward to 'dissecting' your new dissecting video (and with buttoned-down lab gowns, SVP)