ABSTRACT
The key to successful research and productive experimentation is complete and effective planning. Time management is the first issue, but experimental planning always has to take timescales into consideration. For experiments using cultured cells, experiments involving animals or animal tissues, and equipment with a high usage, forward planning is extremely important. Most labs carry a limited stock of the most commonly used reagents. All will have the basics, such as NaCl, for buffers, plus the rare chemicals needed only for the specific work that lab is doing. Other supplies include assay kits, antibodies, DNA samples, cell cultures, and tissue banks. Controls are central to any experiment and are an essential tool for diagnosing any problems that arise within the experiment. Controls can be broadly split into two groups - positive and negative. Negative controls are experiments that are missing a fundamental reagent or sample and should not work.
