Record input values, units, stock concentrations, dilution factors, overage assumptions, and final volumes. A final table without the assumptions is hard to audit later.
Deviations
Small deviations matter. If incubation time changed, a reagent was substituted, a sample thawed longer than planned, or a control was missing, write it down.
Interpretation
Separate observation from interpretation. "Band present" is an observation. "PCR succeeded" is an interpretation that depends on controls, size, specificity, and downstream purpose.
Practical structure
- Goal.
- Sample and reagent context.
- Calculation assumptions.
- Protocol summary.
- Deviations.
- Raw observation.
- Interpretation and next step.
Reuse value
The best notebook entries help future you repeat the experiment without reconstructing decisions from memory.