First of all, I should mention that this application is available for Mac users only, so sorry to all you PC users. PDF skim is a software application that allows you to add electronic notes onto PDF files. As the creators of the application say, it’s time to “Stop printing and start skimming”. Since I normally print out scientific articles so that I can make notes on them as I read, this application should result less paper in my office, and the forests should be happier too.

Update: Foxit Reader does the same job on the PC, as I described here.

DNA ligations can be frustrating. Sometimes they just don’t work, for no obvious reason. My top 5 ligation tips will help to improve the efficiency of your ligation reactions and hopefully give a better cloning success rate. Read more »

You’ve tried all the usual stuff, and checked the primer sequences twice, but still can’t get that PCR fragment amplified. It’s time to enter the strange world of PCR additives. Over the years a variety of additives have been shown to enhance PCR reactions in certain situations. Here is a summary of some of the PCR additives that have been described: Read more »

I wouldn’t normally expect to include an article on knitting in a molecular biology blog, but Kimberly Chapman’s DNA model for babies is so cool (in a very geeky way) that I thought it deserved a mention. I’d like one of these, but unfortunately, they are not commercially available. Kimberley only provides patterns on her website, and I don’t have the first clue how to knit so I’ll have to be content with the photo. Never mind.