A Biologist Writes About Large Refrigerators
Not all large refrigerators get filled with containers that hold food. Sometimes a large refrigerator takes up space in a laboratory, such as one in which scientists and technicians engage in biomedical research.
Such large refrigerators do not hold any eggs or meat, but they could well contain a good deal of protein. In a biotechnology company, technicians and scientists are often asked to collect and isolate the protein from plant, animal or human tissues. Various types of cells are grown in culture, in a special type of medium. Some of the protein produced by the cells makes its way into the culture media.
Media that contains protein from cultured cells is called "conditioned media." It can not be stored at room temperature. If collected media needs to undergo further testing, then it might get stored in a refrigerator. Obviously, the collection of large volumes of any such "conditioned" liquid demands acquisition of a large refrigerator.
Once the gathered media has been tested, then scientists decide whether or not it should be frozen. If protein rich media needs to be frozen, then the media gathering laboratory needs to have access to a large freezer. Some biotechnology companies rely on the availability of walk in freezers. Others use appliances that can keep liquid frozen. A smaller lab might use large refrigerators that have some attached freezer space.
A careful technician keeps close track of all the items stored in any freezer or refrigerator. A technician can never know for sure when someone else in the same research facility might want to test or retest any of the stored liquid. The most useful appliances are those that facilitate development of an organized approach to the storage of large and small volumes of liquid. Of course, no one appliance can satisfy completely the needs of all the laboratory personnel.
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