The Scientist - Science News, Educational Articles, Expert Opinion
Our second annual writing contest provides life scientists with a platform to try their hands at science journalism, tell their science stories, develop their communication skills, and publish their work.
The Cre- loxP System: A Powerful Tool in the Genetic Toolbox
Dec 4, 2023 · Sternberg pondered about the underlying mechanism; he suspected that there must be a genetic hotspot for recombination located at the terminal ends of the linear genome to facilitate plasmid cyclization. 1 . The genesis of Cre-loxP recombinationConsistent with his hypothesis, Sternberg’s experiments revealed a small fragment of P1 DNA at the end of the genetic map that was likely responsible ...
Universe 25 Experiment | TS Digest | The Scientist
May 28, 2024 · UNIVERSE 25: John Calhoun crouches within his rodent utopia-turned-dystopia that, at its peak, housed approximately 2,200 mice. Calhoun was studying the breakdown of social bonds that occurs under extreme overcrowding, following up on his earlier discovery of the learned "behavioral sink" phenomenon in rats. 1
Optimizing PCR: Proven Tips and Troubleshooting Tricks
Feb 23, 2024 · Template DNA. Template amount, source, and secondary structures or GC-rich regions may affect the reaction. 7. The amount of template depends on the DNA copy number. For a standard PCR reaction with 25-30 cycles, roughly 10 4 copies of the template DNA are sufficient to generate a detectable amount of PCR product. 7; The DNA required for a given reaction also depends on the source.
Insights into qPCR: Protocol, Detection Methods, and Analysis
Nov 8, 2023 · RT-PCR vs. qPCR. Reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR) is often confused with real-time PCR. RT-PCR utilizes a reverse transcriptase enzyme to convert ribonucleic acid (RNA) into complementary DNA (cDNA). 1 When combined with qPCR, the method is called reverse transcription real-time quantitative PCR . 3 RT-qPCR is a powerful tool because it enables researchers to measure gene expression of ...
What Does a Positive Covid Test Look Like? - The Scientist …
May 10, 2024 · ABOVE: A positive rapid test will yield two visible lines (middle) while a valid negative test will only show a single line in the control region (right) and an invalid test will show no control line (left). iStock, ASIFE V iral TikTok videos showing teenagers hacking rapid COVID-19 tests by inserting sodas and other acidic solutions into the tests’ inlet caused quite a …
How Many Genes Do Humans Have? | TS Digest | The Scientist
Apr 1, 2024 · To determine how many genes are in the human genome, researchers first needed to produce a complete genomic sequence. The Human Genome Project (HGP), spanning between 1990-2003, was a publicly funded initiative led by an international consortium of researchers in order to comprehensively study DNA and …
Luciferase: A Powerful Bioluminescent Research Tool
Jul 16, 2024 · In nature, a luciferin–luciferase system is present in the firefly (Photinus pyralis), bacteria (Vibrio harveyi), sea pansy (Renilla reniformis), jellyfish (Aequorea victori), ostracod (Cypridina noctiluca), dinoflagellates (Gonycaulax), and copepod (Gaussia princeps). 6 . Not all bioluminescent marine organism systems can be used for animal imaging because the majority of them generate blue ...
Biochemistry Articles | The Scientist Magazine®
The Scientist's articles under the category: Biochemistry. Using AI models, scientists can predict gene expression, design new proteins, and create precision medicines.
Infographic: The Cre-lox System Explained
Dec 4, 2023 · C re-loxP recombination allows scientists to excise, insert, or invert specific DNA segments with unprecedented accuracy. 1,2 This works through two key components: a Cre recombinase and loxP sequence recognition sites. The Cre enzyme identifies pairs of loxP sites (arrowheads), which flank (flox) the DNA, and catalyzes reciprocal DNA recombination between the two sites to excise a small piece ...