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Search below to delve into the Bitesize Bio archive. Here, you’ll find over two decades of the best articles, live events, podcasts, and resources, created by real experts and passionate mentors, to help you improve as a bioscientist. Whether you’re looking to learn something new or dig deep into a topic, you’ll find trustworthy, human-crafted content that’s ready to inspire and guide you.
Liquid nitrogen isn’t just cool, it’s potentially deadly. We share our 10 tips for staying safe while working with liquid nitrogen.
A neglected pH meter means less reliable experiments, poor reproducibility, and your time wasted. So, learn how to use a pH meter correctly!
Follow our simple lentiviral transduction protocol and discover expert tips and tricks to make your transductions a success.
Autoclaving something that isn’t autoclavable is usually embarrassing, dangerous, or both! Read this simple guide to autoclavable materials in biology labs to demystify what you can and can’t autoclave.
Machine learning is making a massive impact on the life sciences and can now help deliver fast and accurate automatic hepatocyte counts. This article explains hepatocyte counting methods, from manual counting to the latest AI-assisted techniques.
Researchers must show the statistical accuracy, validity, and significance of their data. So here are two ways to compare two sets of data.
Mass spectrometry molecular separation via mass/charge (m/z) ratios. Each of the various ionization approaches excels in targeting different molecule types. Understanding these techniques can help you pick the optimal ionization method to “make your molecules fly” and reveal their unique mass spectra. Read this article to learn more.
Keeping track of new literature can be a time-consuming process. Here are some helpful hints and tips to help you keep up to date.
No matter how small or large, chemical spills require immediate attention. Learn how to manage spills by following these 4 essential rules.
Facing hours of cell culture, or some other repetitive and mundane lab task? Why not cheer things up with a podcast or two! Discover our top 10 favorite science podcasts for researchers, from Sawbones to The Life Scientific.
Working with membrane proteins can be tricky. Read on to get tried-and-tested tips and tricks for expressing, extracting, and purifying these water-phobic proteins.
Biotechnology is the use of biological organisms in technological processes. It is almost as old as the civilization itself, although it wasn’t called “biotechnology” until the 20th century. Far from abandoning it in the 21st century, we are developing new uses for biological organisms.
Fat and blurry bands on your SDS-PAGE gel can leave your experimental question unanswered. Learn how you can sharpen up your bands and get much greater resolution by using Bis-Tris gels.
Discover how digital ELISAs revolutionize protein detection with unparalleled sensitivity. This article explores cutting-edge technologies like Simoa that detect multiple biomarkers from small samples, transforming research in areas like neurology and immunology.
Metabolic pathways include all the chemical reactions in an organism that sustain biological function, and metabolic tracing lets us study them. This article explains what metabolic tracing is, the isotopes used for different types of study, and how to incorporate isotopes into samples.
Autofluorescence, background fluorescence in unstained cells or tissues, often interferes with microscopy clarity. The article outlines causes, such as natural fluorophores like NADH, and offers strategies like selecting distinct fluorophores and optimizing sample prep to minimize its impact and enhance image accuracy.
Spreadsheets for managing chemicals? That’s not the right way to organize your lab. This article explains a better way—registration systems. Learn what they are and how they offer a huge productivity boost on their own and when integrated with electronic lab notebooks.
Are you even a real researcher if you have never cried over a PCR result? The biggest challenge in setting up a quantitative Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (qRT-PCR) is ensuring that the readings you obtain are accurate. Check out how to do that with these hard-won qRT-PCR setup tips.
This guide to troubleshooting microplate assays highlights different microplate features and reader settings and explains the best strategies for obtaining high-quality data.
Are you preparing to run your first column chromatography experiment? Here are some basics that you should know before you use that precious sample.
Biological agents, including bacteria, viruses, parasites, and fungi, are categorized into four biosafety levels (BSL), each indicating a different threat level. These levels increase progressively, with level one organisms posing the least risk and level four the greatest. This article details each biosafety level, explaining their necessity and providing examples of organisms handled at each level.
Accuracy and precision are critical for achieving reliable and reproducible results. Read on to discover what these terms mean and how to improve your accuracy and precision.
Responding poorly to criticism of your grant proposals could ruin your chances of getting funding. Apart from removing your emotional response to feedback, there are many things you can do to address criticisms of your proposals. This article breaks them down for you.
Hydrogen bonds are critical non-covalent bonds essential for the structural integrity and function of almost all biological molecules, particularly DNA and proteins. This article explains the fundamental chemistry of hydrogen bonds and nomenclature and highlights why they are critical for life.
It’s easy to fall into the trap of setting self-applied limits on what we want to do and achieve. Discover the benefits of expanding your comfort zone to foster personal growth, resilience, and new experiences that enhance your life.
This article explains a simple, 4-step method for automatic cell counting with ImageJ. Perfect for your cell proliferation studies, gene expression analysis, or whatever your downstream application might be.
Read this guide for essential tips on choosing the right international PhD program. Learn about different funding options, course structures, and cultural considerations to ensure you make the best decision for your academic and personal growth.
Learn how UV radiation causes DNA mutations. Read about about the mechanisms that lead to skin cancer and the detrimental effects that UV light can have on our DNA-based experiments.
Discover whether it’s better to build or buy the latest microscope technology for your lab. This article weighs the advantages of custom builds against the ease and reliability of purchasing from vendors, helping you make the best choice for your research needs.
Using ethanol precipitation to isolate or concentrate your nucleic acids? Find out how this routinely used technique works, and get tips to produce the best results.
Choosing the right system for scientific research involves understanding your specific needs, personal values, and desired outcomes. Learn practical steps to selecting the ideal system for reliable and desirable results.
Discover top strategies for optimizing nuclei extraction and learn how to adapt protocols for improved single-cell sequencing outcomes.
Make your grant applications more convincing for reviewers to help secure funds by adopting these persuasive writing techniques.
Navigating the complexities of microbiome data visualization can be challenging. Our guide offers insights on selecting the right plots and optimizing them for maximum readability and publication readiness.
While CRISPR offers vast applications in disease research and drug target identification, it’s not always the optimal choice for every scenario. Explore the main advantages and challenges of using CRISPR-Cas9 to determine if it’s the right fit for your project.
Are you trying to prepare for an interview but not sure what sort of questions you’ll get asked? Check out our top 10 Postdoc interview questions to help you prepare.
Effective laboratory sterilization methods are essential for working with isolated cell lines. Read our guide to the top 6 sterilization techniques to banish those bugs.
Thinking of doing a PhD? Here are some essential considerations from a PhD graduate to help you decide whether or not getting a PhD is worth it.
It’s necessary to check pipette calibration every few months to ensure accuracy by dispensing the right volumes. This article explains how to perform pipette calibration yourself so you can ensure they are accurate and avoid the wait for their next service.
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!
The eBook with top tips from our Researcher community.
