Hello all,

I am looking for tips for working with fat bodies. I've noticed that
although I am processing everything the same way, I see very variable
results with RNA extractions from fat bodies, in terms of yield especially.
Occasionally I will get preps where I get no RNA. I am confident that the
RNA isolation protocol is fine, and that I don't have RNAse contamination
(except for in the sample itself). I do my dissections on ice, flash freeze
my tubes immediately, and am doing my dissections as rapidly as possible.

Has anyone worked with fat bodies before and had similar problems? I'm
thinking that my problem is probably coming from dissections, either nicking
the gut or being a little too rough with the fat bodies. Got any good tips
for doing quick, clean dissections of fat bodies?

Thank you all,
Ivy McDaniel

Hello all again...

Guess what I am doing. I have acquired a Picospritzer II (General
Valve corporation) in pieces, and not being of a mechanical bent (not
to mention my chromosomal constitution) I would LOVE to read a manual.
Anyone out there got a pdf for this thing? I've emailed the company
(they are out there under Parker Hannifin Corporation Pneutronics
Division) but I need the manual pretty quick so I am trying my luck
here as well.

Hope you folks in the midwest are coping. What a mess. Mother nature
seems rather ticked off these days.

Sandra Schulze
Western Washington University
Bellingham WA

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