First job – Cytogenetic Technologist!  Lori taught me all I know! I learned cell culture, microscopy and karyotyping. As a cytogenetic technologist, I initiated blood, bone marrow, tissue and/or amniotic fluid samples in culture, harvested the samples to collect the cells in the metaphase stage of mitosis, “dropped” cells onto slides, G-banded the cells and performed microscopic analysis to diagnose chromosome abnormalities in newborns and children with birth defects or couples experiencing infertility, to identify gender after prenatal testing, and to determine chromosome rearrangements associated with specific cancers.  My first conference poster was on chromosome 9 variants and research project was validating a new method to improve quality of bone marrow chromosome preparations. Favorite rotation; tissue culture with Nicole and least favorite was in the darkroom making prints for karyotypes in afternoon. We had two UCONN DGS students intern at our lab! Chromosomes first became “cool” to me, learning from and working alongside a great team; Lori, Nancy, Heidi, Mara, Marcia, Mickey, and Nicole “Goober”…all overseen by our knowledgeable Director, Dr Stein.