Cells and Model Organisms
How to Make the Perfect Agar Plate Every Time
Agar plates are the foundation of many experiments. Make sure your plates are perfect every time with these 8 tips and start your experiment ready for success!
Read MoreHow to Preserve Microorganisms: Store Your Cells Better
We must preserve microorganisms for research continuity and to prevent frustrating delays. Here are several reliable ways to do it.
Read MoreHow To Passage Cells in Culture
Learn the basics of how to passage cells in culture with this easy-to-follow guide. While the specifics change per cell line, the basics remain.
Read More12 Top Tips for Working in a Biosafety Cabinet
Biosafety cabinets keep your work safe from contamination, and you safe from your work. So here are 12 tips for Working in a biosafety cabinet!
Read MoreWhat’s in Your Cell Culture Medium?
Do you know what each ingredient in cell culture media does? Read on to take a look at the common ingredients and break down their roles.
Read MoreUnderstanding Cell Passage Number and How to Calculate it for Cell Cultures
Not sure what we mean by cell passage number? Confused about how to calculate it? Wondering if there is a maximum number? We explain it all.
Read MoreTop 5 of the Most Commonly Used Cell Lines
Want to use a cell line but not sure where to start? Or perhaps you’re just curious about the most commonly used cell lines. Our top 5 most commonly used cell lines will help you get a feel for the cells that many researchers turn to.
Read MoreGoing Serum-Free: The How and Why of Removing Serum From Your Media
While using serum in cell culture can keep your cells healthy and happy, there are some notable downsides. We discuss the pros and cons of using serum in cell culture media and how to remove it if you want to eliminate it from your workflow.
Read MoreHow Confluent Are Your Cells? A Beginner’s Guide to Measuring Cell Culture Confluency
Cell confluency can affect cell behavior and growth. Find out what confluency is, how to measure it, and why it is a crucial consideration for your experiments.
Read MoreWhat the HEK? A Beginner’s Guide to HEK293 Cells
HEK293 cells are one of the most commonly used cell lines. But what are they? Why should you use them? And what does the ‘293’ mean?
Read MoreIs Your Bacterial Culture Still Growing? A Primer on OD600 Measurements
How do you know when your bacterial culture is “done” growing? Read on to learn how to monitor bacterial growth using OD600 measurements, and how to figure out when you should harvest your culture.
Read MoreIntroduction to Yeast Media: How to Feed Your Fungus
Are you finding the variety of available yeast media overwhelming? Read our guide to understand what’s in each and which is right for your fungus.
Read MoreCell Counting with a Hemocytometer: As easy as 1, 2, 3…
Do hemocytometers look scary and complicated with their multiple tiny squares, boxes, and grids? Take a look at our article and see how easy it actually is to use a hemocytometer.
Read MoreSurviving the Big Chill: Freezing and Thawing Mammalian Cells in the Lab
Cryopreservation is crucial to the long-term maintenance of cells, so it’s important that you’re clued up on your freeze–thaw cycles. Check out our top tips for freezing and thawing cells.
Read MoreCrash Course in Microbial Identification
Need a crash course in microbial identification methods? Here we give you a rundown of the methods available for the identification of bacteria, yeast, or filamentous fungi to the species level.
Read MoreGet a Move On: How to Measure Movement in Zebrafish
If you are interested in the sensory or motor function of your zebrafish model, this is the test to try.
Read More6 Dos and Don’ts for Perfecting the CAM Assay
Don’t put all your eggs in one basket! Learn how to handle your eggs, prevent contamination and keep track of your experiments when performing the CAM assay.
Read MoreChick Embryo: A Model System for Studying Angiogenesis
Are you studying angiogenesis? Is cell culture not cutting it but you’re not ready for an in vivo model? Check out the CAM assay.
Read MoreChemically Induced Mouse Models – Where Consistency Matters
Tips and tricks to get the most optimum and consistent results in a DSS-induced colitis model
Read MorePop Quiz!: Do You Know How a Coulter Counter Works?
Are you an immunologist or lab personnel dealing with counting tons of cells? Then you must have come across the elusive Coulter Counter! Read on to know a little history ofthe instrument’s technology and its working principle.
Read MoreFeeder Cells – the What, Why and How
Feeder cells – your solution to difficult-to-grow cell problems. Find out what they are, why to use them, and how.
Read MoreAdvice on Working With Mice in the Lab
Working with mice doesn’t have to be intimidating. Read these tips to help keep your mouse-based experiments running smoothly.
Read MoreYour Checklist to Working With an Emerging Model Organism
Are you struggling to answer your research question using established models? Consider going rogue and switching to a non-model organism!
Read MoreInfecting Eukaryotic Cells With Bacteria (On Purpose!)
Yes, you can infect your eukaryotic cells with bacteria on purpose! Find out why and how in this article that lists steps for successful and productive infections.
Read MoreWhat Does “N” Mean When Using Cell Lines?
If you’re confused about what N numbers mean for cell lines, you’re not alone. We explain it all and give you a guide on best practice.
Read MoreTake a Stab at It! A Guide to Microinjection in Zebrafish
When microinjecting zebrafish, time is of the essence. Read these tips and tricks on how to prepare ahead of time and ensure a successful microinjection.
Read MoreWhere To Get Your Perfect Cell Line
There’s no need to shop till you drop. Our guide to where to get your next cell line from takes the stress out of cell line shopping.
Read MoreHow to Use a Eukaryotic System for Protein Expression & Purification
We are all familiar with bacterial cell lines as a means for protein expression and purification. But can you do the same with eukaryotic cell lines? Read on to learn some helpful tips and considerations when needing to get your hands on some eukaryotic protein.
Read MoreThe Do’s and Dont’s of Choosing a Cell Line
There is an overwhelming selection of cell lines available, make sure you pick the right one for your work using our tips.
Read MoreFive Tips on Culturing Your Schwann Cells of Choice
Now that you’ve chosen your perfect primary Schwann cell line, it’s time to culture! Read on to learn how to do so with ease.
Read MoreThe Culture of Primary Schwann Cells
Have you been itching to branch into working with Schwann cells for your next experiment, but aren’t quite sure where to begin? This article will help you decide which primary Schwann cell line is best for your needs.
Read MoreTips for Successful Bone Marrow Isolation
During my first year of graduate school, I learned how to isolate bone marrow. I remember watching my mentor in awe, wondering how would I be able to do such a difficult technique. Flash forward to a few weeks later and I was confidently undertaking bone marrow isolation. Learning a new technique is always daunting,…
Read MoreCulturing M1 and M2 Macrophages: Media Matters
Macrophages are a type of white blood cell derived from monocytes that are most widely known for the ability to phagocytose cell debris, pathogens, and even cancer cells. However, it is becoming clear that the role of macrophages goes beyond eliminating cellular waste. Macrophages are often used in conjunction with T cells to measure immune…
Read MoreThe What, Why and How of Explant Culture
What Is Explant Culture and Why Should I Use It? Explant culture is the culture of small pieces of tissue surgically removed from animal tissue or organ. It is a useful method for several reasons. The maintenance of the histotypic architecture and biochemical properties of the cells means it more closely resembles the tissue in…
Read More6 Steps for Successful in vitro Drug Treatment
You might have seen one of the many anti-drug ads the 80s had to offer (including this delightful message from Robocop) and rightfully steered clear of drugs. But when it comes to biology, we use in vitro drug treatment for many experimental purposes, including testing anti-cancer treatments or synchronizing the cell cycle. If you are facing your first in vitro…
Read MoreNodulation: What Is It and Why Is It Important?
Plants are incredibly organisms. Not only do they provide atmospheric oxygen, but, in the case of legumes, they can transform atmospheric nitrogen gas to ammonia, which can then be consumed by humans. How does this happen, you ask? It’s all thanks to bacteria and the process of nodulation. Deep Breaths Nitrogen is an incredibly important…
Read MoreSuccessful Start: Tips for Establishing Organoids
Organoids are a developing star of research. They can be grown to represent the majority of mammalian organs and have a wide range of possible applications. More realistic than simple monolayer cell culture, they offer an in-between step that reduces the need for animal models and simplifies (although doesn’t completely remove) ethics paperwork. They are…
Read MoreStaying Alive: Tips for Air-Liquid Interface Cultures
What Is Air-Liquid Interface Culture? Long gone are the days where scientists had to rely on 2D cultures of immortalized cell lines to learn principles of human biology. Today, we have a variety of cell culture systems that come closer than ever before to mimicking the structure and function of our body’s organs. One example…
Read MoreC. elegans: The Elegant Model System
In research, choosing a model system is like choosing a partner – you want it to be a perfect fit. If you are attempting to solve problems such as finding unknown proteins in known processes, investigating unknown functions of known proteins or correlating cell biology to a function for which you want a relatively simple…
Read MoreFive Factors Affecting Your Mouse Behavioral Studies
Let’s face it: the nature of behavior itself is inherently variable, whether it’s the heterogeneous socializing behavior of humans at parties, the complex aggressive behavior of rodents when they perceive a threat, or the intricate courtship behavior of insects during their mating dances. Because of this variability, the struggles associated with trying to (successfully) reproduce…
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