Glassware

What are they and why do we use them? What types are there?

Glassware encompasses all the various glass vessels used for your biotech experiments. The role of glassware is to provide a non-reactive, enclosed space that can be consistently sterilised in an autoclave. Lab glassware is often graduated, allowing for easy measurements of volume. Borosilicate 3 is the international standard for quality glass. While you’re welcome to use any kind of glassware for your lab experiments, the following types are considered useful shapes for common experiments;

• 5 ml McCartney bottles - Useful for small culture volumes and agar slants

• 50 ml - 300 ml Conical Flasks - Useful for melting agarose and for medium culture volumes

• 50 ml - 2 L Beakers - Useful for buffer and chemical mixing

• 50 ml - 2 L Screw-Cap Bottles - Useful for larger culture volumes and for making agar plates.

When do you use?

All day, every day. Your life as a scientist is part glass-washer. Find a good audiobook to while away the hours you spend cleaning dirty glassware.

How do you use?

Use to contain liquids, you’ve probably used a jar before.

Cleaning is less self-explanatory. You need to make sure all traces of the previous experiment are gone and that no traces of soap remain. A typical wash-up would include a long soak and wash in soapy water, followed by 2-3 rinses with sterile RO water. After drying, you can add in the new contents and autoclave to sterilise.

Remember to always loosen the caps on glassware that is being sterilised! Air-tight glassware may explode!