/lab-meta-data

This is a repository of template files to store metadata of laboratory experiments.

MIT LicenseMIT

lab metadata

This repository contains different template folders with READMES, and also json files that I created to keep my experimental data organized. More information about each one in its respective folder "README" file.

usage

Everytime there is new data from an experiment create a json file in the folder of that experiment, and then populate it with the relevant information. The idea of using .json is that it makes it easier to edit a .json file in a simple text editor compared to a table. Especially when there are different obervations for the same sample. Thus the focus in taking notes in the lab can be in the observation and not in writing the same notes with the sample name over and over again. Lastly, .json files can be easily edited in in small vertical windows without breaking its structure; unlike tables or .csv.

Naming files:

  1. pattern "YYYYMMDD_fooo_n0#"
    1. where foo is the label of the experiment (or anything else that makes sense for the file to be named)
      1. I used to put the name of the technique, for example, YYYMMDD_bradford_n01
        1. if I recorded the experiments continously then it would be something as ..._bradford01_...
    2. If I found a conflict in name, which is very rare, I would add _a,b,c...z to the filename
      1. this way the files would maintain there continous labeling ..._bradford01a...
    3. when it is applied, each replicate of the experiment is numbered ..._n0#
      1. if all replicates are objects in the json file rename to something relatable to the experiment,
        1. for example run01 for PCRs or observation01 for microscopy

More about the background on using .json files here

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disclaimer

These are files that I created to help me maintain my information organized and sharable with future me. Most likely there is a better way to do this. Anyway if you find them useful feel free to used/edit them.