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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.
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!
Spectral unmixing in flow cytometry is the key to great data from your full spectrum flow cytometry. Get this wrong, and you risk unreliable results. Read our top 7 tips from a flow cytometry core facilities expert to nail your unmixing.
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.
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.
We often use size-exclusion chromatography to purify samples. Read this article to learn how to use it to measure sample molecular weight as well!
Need to get a handle on the fundamental differences between HPLC and GC to pick one for your studies? Here’s a quick explainer!
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.
Do you fully understand why enzymes have the best catalytic activity within a specific temperature ranges? Find out in our handy guide.
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.
Do you need to learn about gas chromatography? This article takes you through the basic principles and instrumentation. With illustrations!
Not sure what FRET is, or just need a refresher on how FRET works? Read our short guide to understand the usefulness of FRET for studying protein-protein interactions.
Designing Cas13 gRNAs is a bit different from the standard Cas9. Read this guide to learn how it differs, and get a step-by-step guide on designing the perfect Cas13 gRNAs.
Discover what RNA quality control is, why it’s so important for your experiments, and how to undertake it with these 3 key considerations.
We show you how to read a scientific paper efficiently to make the most of your reading time.
Journal Club. So much more than reading a paper aloud. So many ways to mess it up. Got to present one? Then read our journal club toolkit.
Buffers provide a stable chemical environment for all our experiments. But how do buffers work? And how do you pick one? Read on to find out.
Getting involved in the post-publication review of scientific papers can seriously improve your critical analysis skills. Here’s how.
Working with chemicals is dangerous and can lead to injury, or worse. Follow these ten broadly applicable golden rules to help keep you and your colleagues working safely in the lab.
Here’s an easy guide on how to maintain your lab balance. Following these tips will ensure your balance remains clean and perhaps most importantly, accurate.
You may be familiar with standard single fragment ligations, but did you know you can ligate multiple fragments into your vector all at the same time! Discover how to perform multiple fragment ligation, including the different methods and troubleshooting tips for when things go wrong.
Contamination in your pipette can mean contamination in your experiments, making cleaning pipettes regularly critical. Here’s an easy guide on how to do it.
Relative Quantification in qPCR compares gene expression levels using either the ΔΔCt or Pfaffl methods. Both rely on housekeeping genes for normalization but differ in handling primer efficiency. The ΔΔCt method assumes equal efficiency, while the Pfaffl method corrects for differences. Selecting stable reference genes or using multiple genes improves accuracy. Understanding these methods helps researchers accurately analyze gene expression changes in their experiments.
Kits for DNA gel extraction are a great way to save time in the lab, but they are costly and produce much plastic waste. Discover three easy kit-free DNA gel extraction methods that can save you money and reduce waste in the lab.
Western blot quantification can show how protein expression changes between conditions and treatments. Discover the 4 critical steps you need for quantification.
Got non-specific PCR amplification? You need touchdown PCR! Discover what it is, how it works, and get 5 top tips for performing touchdown PCR.
Let’s be honest—we scientists don’t always present our science in ways that are accessible to everyone. Nor is lab-based science always accessible. Explore what accessibility in science is and how we can all make science more accessible and inclusive.
Acids are common and essential chemicals in any research laboratory. In this article, you’ll get advice on how to handle strong acids safely to give you the confidence to routinely prepare, handle, and dispose of them in the lab.
I’d bet that your trusty pipette is probably one the the most often used tools in the lab. But do you have any idea how to check the accuracy of your pipette? We’ll take you though how to do this in just 7 easy steps.
Pouring and running an agarose gel should be a simple and routine procedure, but there are a surprising number of ways to destroy your agarose gel.
CRISPR isn’t just about DNA editing. Discover how you can use Cas13 proteins in your research to knock down, modify or track RNAs in mammalian cells.
When working with proteins, accurate protein quantification is key for getting reliable data. Here are the top 5 quantification assays.
Are you having problems amplifying GC-rich regions in your PCR reactions? Read this article for 5 easy tips to address these issues!
The qPCR standard curve is essential for validating primer efficiency and ensuring accurate, reproducible qPCR results. It involves amplifying serial dilutions of DNA to assess reaction efficiency, linearity, and repeatability. Proper use of a standard curve helps detect inhibitors, optimize DNA input, and avoid false data. Skipping this step risks unreliable outcomes, making it a critical control in qPCR experiments for bioscience researchers.
Oil immersion microscopy can improve your resolution in microscopy. This article will explain why this is the case and how you can use oil immersion microscopy in the lab!
Get a short introduction to AI including key terminology, example applications of artificial intelligence in biology, and resources to help you get started.
NMR is a powerful structural tool for studying proteins. Learn how to use multidimensional NMR to identify ligand binding sites and more!
Working in a lab can be a smelly business. Let’s countdown some of the worst lab smells! Then, you can suggest your own.
Here we take a closer look at plasmid copy number and examine how it can be manipulated in the lab giving you flexibility in your work.
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.
NMR can generate tons of useful data for protein samples. Learn all about NMR and Protein Dimerization in this easy intro.
Enhance accuracy, reproducibility, and insight in 2D cell culture research.
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