Let's say you’re making grandma's famous chocolate cake (I promise this is going somewhere). You pour sugar into the bowl, your trusty scale tells you it's precisely 200g, and voila! Into the batter it goes. Then, you take a taste, and it’s too sweet. But how can that be? You followed the recipe! The bitter (or rather, sweet) truth? Your scale led you astray.
With the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, wearing a mask has become a daily routine for many of us. However, with so many different types of masks available in the market, it can be overwhelming to choose the right one for you....
Imagine DNA and RNA extraction as baking a cake for a grand celebration - the Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) party, if you will. Your DNA and RNA are the key ingredients, the flour and sugar of your cake. A low-quality ingredient can ruin the party, leaving you with a cake that’s dry, crumbly, or worst of all, tasteless. And who wants that? No one, that's who. So, let's dive into the common challenges you might face during this baking - I mean, extraction - process, and how to overcome them.
Sarah, a young researcher in a cell biology lab, neglects basic protocols while working on a project involving a new cell line. Her cell cultures become contaminated and fail, leading to frustration. Seeking guidance from her mentor, she learns the importance of following protocols and best practices. With renewed discipline, Sarah successfully revives her cultures, publishes a paper, and makes valuable contributions to the field. The story emphasizes the significance of following protocols, seeking guidance, and maintaining healthy cell cultures in research. The subsequent tips include keeping a clean workspace, using quality materials, monitoring cell density, preventing cross-contamination, and maintaining optimal conditions, among others. By following these tips, researchers can ensure healthy cell cultures for successful experiments and discoveries.
The choice of media for culturing cell lines is a critical factor that can significantly impact cell growth and behavior. Understanding the basic types of media available, considering the specific requirements of your cells, and evaluating the cost and convenience are key factors in selecting the right media. There is no one-size-fits-all solution, and it is important to validate your media choice and consult credible sources. By making informed decisions about media selection, researchers can improve the reliability and reproducibility of their experiments, leading to potentially groundbreaking discoveries and advancements in scientific research.
RT-qPCR (Quantitative Reverse Transcription PCR) is the recognized "gold standard" for COVID-19 testing due to its high accuracy of 99.5% in detecting the virus. This article provides a brief overview of the RT-qPCR process, highlighting the extraction of RNA from samples, the duplication of genetic material through PCR, and the real-time quantitative detection of COVID-19 using fluorescence. By understanding this testing method, individuals can gain insights into its effectiveness in identifying COVID-19 infections and taking necessary precautions.
Ethanol is a vital industry in the Midwest, with corn being a key ingredient. To extract ethanol from corn, it is mashed, ground, and broken down using the enzyme amylase. Filtration and centrifugation are used to separate the ethanol from byproducts. High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) is employed to analyze and ensure the purity of the ethanol. Moisture testing is also crucial. Overall, the process involves breaking down corn, separating ethanol, and analyzing its quality. Ethanol has diverse applications, making understanding its extraction process valuable.
A modern alternative to traditional filtration methods. This innovative device combines the syringe, filter, and vial into one, streamlining the sample filtration process in the laboratory. Simply add your sample, press the filter, and the filtrate is ready for analysis. Upgrade your lab routine with the filter bottle from Filtrous.
In this blog post, we will explore the proper setup and usage of a laboratory balance. Calibration is essential to ensure accurate measurements. By using pre-calibrated weight standards and following the balance's prompts, you can calibrate the balance effectively. Remember to level the balance and center the bubble indicator. Additionally, familiarize yourself with the "zero" function to reset measurements and the "tare" function for weighing items within containers. Mastering these steps will enable you to achieve precise measurements in your lab experiments.
