Today is one of those days when I want to strangle BarMinion. We're working on a huge experiment in which we are quantifying protein differences between 37 samples. They are being analyzed in sets of 3 samples plus a control, and they're analyzed in triplicate and block randomized within each set. In other words, you have 3 blocks in each set containing one of each sample in the set, and the run order for the samples is randomized within each block. It's an important thing to do so you can show that any changes are not due to instrument drift. If you do the math, that gives 12 sets of 3 samples with 1 remainder. It takes a HUGE amount of instrument time to run all the samples.
Today I had occasion to look at the set with the extra sample. Rather than re-randomizing to add one replicate of the new sample to each block, BarMinion added all 3 replicates for the additional sample to the end of the set. Yes, the entire set will have to be re-analyzed. BM doesn't understand how to randomize the samples, therefore she insists that it's not important.





As furious as I am, I would not want to be in BarMinion's shoes tomorrow. I cannot even begin to imagine how angry Road Runner will be with her. BarMinion wasted at least a week's worth of instrument time, setting us even farther behind, just due to sheer stubbornness. Of course, I will have to be extra vigilant, because BarMinion will now be on the lookout for some way to make me look bad.
