# Why Misusing the Term 'Experiment' Can Mislead You in Science
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Chapter 1: The True Definition of Experimentation
The term "experiment" can be used both as a noun—"the experiment"—and as a verb—"to experiment." This duality often leads to frustration among scientists when they hear phrases like "I experimented with braiding my hair" or "I experimented with vegetable combinations for lunch." It's clear that many people might not fully grasp the technical meaning of the word "experiment."
Let me share my experiences: one involved a "successful experimental lunch," while the other was a "failed attempt at molecular cloning."
Cooking and Science: A Common Misconception
Many skilled professionals often liken culinary skills to scientific abilities. I remember the first time I encountered this analogy during an internship; it left me feeling defensive, especially since my cooking was far from impressive. Over time, I’ve learned that opinions are like pesky mosquitoes—you can choose to swat them away or let them drain your energy.
According to the Oxford definition, an experiment is "a scientific procedure undertaken to make a discovery, test a hypothesis, or demonstrate a known fact."
So, how can a casual attempt at lunch be considered a scientific experiment? While following a recipe may resemble adhering to a scientific protocol, mixing ingredients randomly in hopes of a delightful outcome is more akin to gambling than to science.
Can Cooking Be Considered a Hypothesis Test?
On a particularly gloomy spring day, where the rain poured heavily, I decided to celebrate by treating myself to a homemade meal. Stuck indoors and stressed from job applications, I sought a distraction. I pulled out some frozen spinach, microwaved it, and paired it with fresh salted tomatoes and green onions. For a side, I fried mozzarella sticks in oil, seasoned with salt and green onions, and brewed some cocoa-infused coffee.
As I sat down to watch Kdrama while enjoying my meal, I was suddenly ravenous. Was my "experiment" a success due to the placebo effect of my positive mindset, or was it simply a coincidence?
If we consider combining ingredients as a way to test a hypothesis about flavor combinations, then perhaps we can label it an experiment. However, if we think about the culinary process haphazardly, it resembles attempting ligation in molecular biology without following proper protocols—leading to inevitable failure.
The Inevitable Frustrations of Science
Science can be exasperating, even when you meticulously check your ingredients and the sequence of actions. I recall dedicating weeks to linearizing a backbone and ligating an insert, only to be told I had the wrong insert-to-backbone ratio. After running gels post-miniprep, I discovered that my vector had a mutation. Despite multiple attempts at ligation, the same flawed pattern emerged, indicating that while the digestion enzyme functioned correctly, the plasmid itself was compromised.
Unfortunately, without the necessary permissions for sequencing, I couldn't confirm my suspicions regarding the mutation, and I missed the deadline for producing a clone.
Science can indeed be frustrating, but each setback teaches you to hypothesize better and approach future experiments with a different mindset—unlike cooking, where the lack of a recipe can lead to hit-or-miss results. If you enjoyed your meal, it was likely due to chance, not because you found a "perfect formula."
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Chapter 2: The Importance of Accurate Experimentation
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Chapter 3: Preparing for Real-World Applications
The second video, "Word 2019 (MO-100) Practice Exam," provides a thorough overview of essential skills for using Microsoft Word, preparing viewers for real-world applications and tests.