Articles

From using nonspecific polyclonal antibodies to developing monoclonal antibodies from immortalized antibody-producing cells to antibody engineering and generation of antibodies using an animal-free library with billions of antibody fragments to choose from, the antibody technology has seen tremendous advances. Explore where this journey started and what the current trends are and what the human combinatorial antibody library (HuCAL) technology destination has to offer!

Some of the frustrations in protein purification stem from unmet chromatography needs, such as automation, productivity, throughput, and reproducibility among others. Bio-Rad’s new Multi-D chromatography method addresses these and provides solutions to faster, efficient and more reliable protein purification.

Genome editing using tools such as CRISPR/Cas9 and TALEN has gained enormous popularity in recent days due to their ability to create precise deletions or insertions. However when the frequency of these gene edits are really small, an ultrasensitive method like ddPCR™ is needed for accurate quantification. This technote explains how Droplet Digital™ PCR is used for the detection of HDR and NHEJ alleles generated using CRISPR/Cas9 and TALEN editing systems.

Few discoveries have changed the pace of discovery and the types of questions we can ask as drastically and quickly as CRISPR-based genome editing. But where did CRISPR come from? How was it adapted to become such a game-changing genome editing tool? And why are some of its greatest proponents alarmed?

Why western blotting, a technique used in every day research, is still not as straightforward as it seems? Well, it’s mainly because of the antibodies. They may not work in all samples, a lot of standardization needs to be done and there are several other unknowns. Bio-Rad, the leader in western blotting, has addressed these concerns in its newest line of antibodies, the PrecisionAb™ Antibodies. See the challenges and the Bio-Rad solution.

Finding ways to slow or reverse aging intrigues scientists and non-scientists alike. In recent studies, merging the circulatory systems of young and old mice rejuvenated skeletal muscle, brain, and cardiac cells, indicating the presence of a systemic “anti-aging factor” initially thought to be growth differentiation factor 11 (GDF11). However, a recent publication showed that GDF11 actually promotes aging, emphasizing the need for further integrative analysis of the aging process.

When you have finished all your experiments and have the paper ready in your head, you need to consider several factors before sending it for publication. Here are some tips that Bio-Rad’s PrimePCR™ PCR Primers and Assays group put together for getting the paper published successfully.

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.