Today's Freshest Bites

I recently visited a lab that had a salad spinner on their lab bench and at first I wondered if they were putting together a salad lunch there but when I took a peek I got a nice surprise. It turns out that the salad spinner was (read on...)

How to Build a Plate Centrifuge for $25

by Shoba on March 12, 2010

Tech Clinic #5: Copy Number Determination for Plasmid Standard Curves

We received the following question from Bitesize Bio reader, Beheroze Sattha. It relates to a problem with absolute quantification using plasmids for standard curves. Since many people use this technique it is an interesting one question for us to explore, and it also (read on...)

Lab Hacks: Lab equipment from the hardware store

While almost every lab has a small toolbox with some screwdrivers, pliers, and such, here are some tools that may not have obvious utility at the bench, but could make your life easier. A Butane Torch If your OCD is as bad as mine, then watching a bubble flow out of (read on...)

How to Create an Effective PowerPoint Presentation

Presenting your work is a fantastic opportunity to get feedback on your project, demonstrate the significance of your results, and make the connections that will enhance your future career. And yet, how many incomprehensible lab meetings have we all sat through? How (read on...)

Grad School is for Life, Not Just for Science

You are going to spend at least 4 years or more in graduate school, and around 3-5 years in a postdoc position. That's a big chunk of your life, so apart from doing experiments, writing papers or your thesis and maybe doing some teaching, what else are you doing? To (read on...)

Tech Tips & Tutorials

Better Plasmid Midipreps Part II: What Causes Low Yields?

Recently we received a question from Bitesize Bio reader Sonia after our article How to: Get Better Plasmid Midiprep Yields. She
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Non-Tech Advice & Hacks

Protecting Your Professional Image in the 21st Century

We all know how important image is to a job search. It's crucial. This is why we wear a nice suit and print our resumes on thick
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Software & Tools

Where Did Bio Begin For You?

Where did bio begin for you? That intriguing question has been the central focus of an interesting experience I just had. How this
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News, Comments and Fun

How Plasmids Became Embroiled in The Cold War

The humble plasmid. We now know it so well, but as little as 60 years ago the field of extra-chromosomal heredity was decidedly murky.
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Recent Comments

Roberto on Tech Clinic #5: Copy Number Determination for Plasmid Standard Curves
Great topic Suzanne! Dr. Gallup's advice is to the point as always. I'd just want to put things in ...
Matt Benson on How to Create an Effective PowerPoint Presentation
Hi Emily, Nice job on the article. I especially agree with the animation comments too. It's ...
Suzanne on Tech Clinic #5: Copy Number Determination for Plasmid Standard Curves
Hi Doug, I consulted an expert/friend Jack Gallup and he explained: The on-line tool requires that ...
Alejandro on How to Create an Effective PowerPoint Presentation
As many have said before, "Tell them what you are going to tell them, tell them, and then tell them ...
Suzanne on Tech Clinic #5: Copy Number Determination for Plasmid Standard Curves
Hi Lindsey, I would say check the yield again after linearization if you are going to also perform ...

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