Protocols and Tips

Counting is something we are all familiar with but it’s not always as simple as one, two, three. Measuring the concentration of cells in suspension is a common but surprisingly complex task in cell biology that is easy to get wrong. This article explores ten factors that can influence cell counting, gives advice on how to improve accuracy, and dispels some commonly held myths.

Dive into an in-depth exploration of the molecular methods for gene expression profiling — highlighting the strengths, applications, and uses of quantitative PCR (qPCR), Droplet Digital PCR (ddPCR), and RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) technologies.

Learn about 5 key aspects of a PCR plate that are crucial to your results. These tips provide you with the tools to make an informed decision when purchasing PCR plates.

Follow along as a new starry-eyed graduate student learns the ins and outs of life as a research scientist, gaining valuable western blotting tips and tricks. Along for the ride are a seasoned postdoctoral fellow and traditional principal investigator.

We asked core facilities staff and research scientists from the U.S. and Europe for their top tips for securing funding for large instrumentation, such as a cell analyzer or cell sorter. Here are the key questions you should consider while preparing your grant application to increase your chances of a successful outcome.

Mice are critical model organisms for the study of neuroinflammation. But tissue quantity is often a limiting factor. In a recent paper, researchers describe a protocol for analysis of 33 cytokines and chemokines using only 50 μl of tissue homogenate. The remaining homogenate can be used for RNA extraction or other analysis.

Presented here are some tips to help you avoid buyer’s remorse and make an educated decision about which instrument to purchase. These tips provide you with the tools to make an informed decision when purchasing a cell sorter.

Incorporating fluorescence-based cell sorting into your lab grants you powerful access to new research areas and rarer cell types without sacrificing efficiency or results. New, powerful techniques like CRISPR and single-cell analysis are enhanced by the isolation of specific cells. But isolating cell populations of the right quality and quantity is both challenging and time consuming. We offer some tips to set yourself up for success and get the most out of your sorts.

Protein thermal shift assays enable quick and easy buffer optimization for increased protein stability. See how Bio-Rad’s family of CFX Real-Time PCR Detection Systems can measure protein thermal stability with higher throughput and more buffer systems than traditional circular dichroism detection.

One-step multiplex RT-qPCR is a technique used to rapidly quantify multiple targets directly from RNA in a single reaction. But proper optimization and validation is essential for its success. These five tips will have you designing primers and probes, selecting reporters, and validating and optimizing your experiments like a pro.