9 Hilarious Lab-Based Memes to Brighten Your Day

If you are looking for some great lab-based memes then you are in for a treat. Here we have scoured the minefield that is the internet to bring you some pure lab-meme gems.

We do hope they meet with your approval.

RELATED: 9 ENGINEERING MEMES THAT HELPED SHAPE 2019

What is meme short for?

The word meme has entered the English lexicon without many people really questioning where it came from. But, as it turns out, the word has a very interesting origin.

It has its roots in classic Greek, being a shortened version of the word mimema. Translated to English, it means, roughly, "something initiated."

The term first came to real prominence in the mid-1970s thanks to Richard Dawkins coining the term in his book "The Selfish Gene." Dawkins used it to help conceptualize the concept of how information spreads rapidly through cultures. 

It first appeared in its current understanding of the term in a 1994 Issue of Wired within an op-ed by Mike Goodwin. 

What is an example of a meme?

We've included a few great examples below, but if you want to see some more, simply search for them on the internet. You will find a broad church of subjects that have been "memed", and we are confident many of them will have you splitting your sides. 

Go and have a look. You may even get inspired to create some new ones of your own!

Is a GIF a meme?

Put simply yes. Anything can be a meme.

Whether it be a still image, gif or even just a phrase or idea, memes gain traction very quickly -- if good enough.

That being said, most memes are still images but gifs are also fair game. 

There will be some meme-purists who believe true memes are still images only. But the basic premise of spreading an idea or concept in a condensed format falls, in our view, comfortably within the umbrella of a meme. 

It's more about the message being conveyed than the actual format.

Many others will disagree. We'll let you make your own mind up, of course. 

7 funny examples of laboratory-themed memes

So, without further ado, here are 7 funny lab-themed memes for your delectation. Trust us when we say this list is far from exhaustive and is in no particular order.

1. Lab-based memes + "Star Wars" = Win

Here’s one for my science pals from r/wholesomememes

When it comes to memes, "Star Wars" is fertile ground. But when you combine it with the trials and tribulations of lab-life, you get a meme that rocks.

Here, the "memer" has successfully captured the camaraderie between lab partners. Despite the best of their intentions, there is always one partner who cannot seem to get their 'head in the game'.

In this case, pipetting appears to be a real problem for them. However, their stalwart and infinitely patient lab partner has got their back.

So touching.  

2. The chain of custody is always a bugbear

For any lab technician, getting your hands on a completed chain of custody or MRN is a constant bane of their existence. Given the importance of being able to track a sample's origin, you'd think this would never be a problem.

However, as any lab-worker will tell you, sometimes it's easier to "get blood out of a stone." If only people would fill them out, or provide them in the first place, that would indeed "be great."

Oh well, such is life.

3. All labs matter man!

We couldn't resist including this incredibly cute, and funny, lab-based meme (well loosely). It works on so many levels, we think you will agree.

And the message is one that everyone can, surely, get behind. Labs do indeed matter, no matter their color, shape or form.

We'll avoid the political connotations behind the clever meme like the plague, however.

4. The life of a lab technician is not always the most glamorous of tasks

The life of a lab technician can be laborious at times (pun intended). But that doesn't mean that other people think the job is something right out of sci-fi. 

As you can see above, people not in the know have very different perceptions of exactly what lab technicians get up to on a day to day basis. But, to be fair, the boss' perspective might be the closest to the truth.

We'll let you decide of course. 

5. That certainly is some high-quality water!

Lab work is serious stuff. But that doesn't mean you can't inject some humor from time to time.

Accurate labeling of chemicals in a lab is an incredibly important practice. Sterilized water is one of the most important tools in the laboratory worker's arsenal. 

With this label, there can be no doubt, whatsoever, what the bottle contains!

6. Microbiology is not for the faint-hearted

"Lion King" memes are something of a guilty pleasure for us here at IE. But when they are combined with digs at microbiology, we can't resist sharing them with our audience. 

This example is pure gold. Nobody and we repeat nobody, ventures into the world of microbiology lightly.

"Abandon all hope ye who enter here" as the old adage goes.

7. "A man needs a name"

There is nothing better than dealing with requests for results from other departments or clients. They invariably believe that the person on the other end of the phone knows exactly which samples they are referring to without any reference numbers.

Hours and hours of fun are had by all. The life of a lab technician can be a real struggle at times.

8. Labs and puns go together like a horse and cart

Puns and lab-based memes are a match made in heaven. Any excuse to include a cat in glasses is also not to be missed.

For this reason, it would be remiss of us to pass up on including this gem.

More, please!

9. "I can fix it"

And lastly, but by no means least, is this great lab-based meme. As it clearly states there is always that one lab colleague who thinks they can fix misbehaving equipment.

Despite lacking any credentials, or training, they are quite happy to fiddle with things far above their paygrade. One day somebody should stop them, but that day is not this day.

It's their funeral after all!