Articles

What do computers and cells have in common? Can cells function as computers or recording devices? Can a bacterial computer be built? Synthetic biologists have recently developed a platform called SCRIBE (Synthetic Cellular Recorders Integrating Biological Events) to convert genomic DNA into a “tape” for recording and memorizing information. This article explores many interesting aspects of autonomous cellular memory and the potential applications of such living computational systems.

Researchers love their lab instruments…and sometimes hate them too. Out of such complex human-machine relationships come nicknames, many many nicknames. Read on to explore the ways scientists name their instruments, the names they choose, and contribute your favorite instrument nickname!

What’s the science that keeps your food safe? Find out with an inside look at Bio-Rad’s Food Science Division, and discover how techniques from the research lab are applied every day to guard what you eat.

Traditional sequential chromatography typically requires intensive hands-on user manipulation, which could hinder the reproducibility of protein purification runs. Multi-D chromatography aims to improve this process while maintaining the efficacy of the traditional workflow.

Traditional real-time PCR workflows often limit the number of genes that can be studied, especially when sample amounts are small. A new workflow now allows Mark Kibschull of the Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute in Toronto to track the expression of hundreds of genes using a fraction of the starting material required by traditional methods.

Which antibody is the best to obtain a definitive and conclusive answer for my questions? How do I choose the best antibody for my purpose? These are standard questions that scientists ask time and time again. Here are a few tips to choose the most appropriate antibody for your specific application.

Suzanne Topalian was recognized in 2014 by Nature as one of “Ten People Who Mattered This Year” for her contributions in pioneering nivolumab, a programmed cell death protein-1 (PD-1) inhibitor that was recently approved in Japan for advanced melanoma treatment and that shifts the paradigm for a wide range of cancer therapies.

“Inquiry-based” is the new buzzphrase in science education. But what do these learning practices look like on the ground? Visit one high school in Southern California and find out about this new approach to teaching science.

Using traditional fluorescence microscopes for everyday cell imaging can be frustrating, with a lot of time spent in the darkroom mastering a highly specialized piece of equipment, all to accomplish relatively simple tasks. The ZOE Fluorescent Cell Imager eliminates the complexities of cell imaging by combining the ease of use of a personal tablet with the power of an inverted microscope. Check it out.

Immunoprecipitation (IP) is a commonly used protocol for concentrating and purifying proteins using specific antibodies and magnetic beads. Here is a simple IP protocol using Bio-Rad’s SureBeads Magnetic Beads.