Gina Riggio
Gina Riggio is a molecular biology research technician with a Bachelor of Science in Nutrition.
Articles by Gina Riggio:
Galaxy: A Free NGS Workflow Management System
Most ‘wet lab’ biologists do not have much computer programming experience, which can make downstream analysis of next generation sequencing results a bit daunting. After the sequencing platform spits out your data, what do you do with it? That’s where Galaxy comes in. What is Galaxy? Galaxy is a bioinformatics workflow management system, created by collaboration…
How To Troubleshoot Your DNA Libraries For 454 Next Generation Sequencing- An Essential Guide.
For those of you who prepare your own DNA libraries, this article will cover the most critical aspects of library preparation to ensure a successful sequencing run. Previous Bite Size Bio articles have covered the basics of how 454 sequencing works, so give those a quick review if you are unfamiliar with the process. This video is also highly…
The Pros and Cons of Storing DNA on Cards
Collecting biological samples in the field can be difficult, since storage conditions outside of the lab are often less than optimal. Enter the Whatman FTA (Flinders Technology Associates) Cards. The Whatman FTA Card, a filter paper product manufactured by GE Health Care, is a paper matrix laced with a proprietary mixture of chemicals that lyse…
A Beginner’s Guide to Storing Biological Materials
In a typical biology lab, you may encounter many types of biological materials, including cells, bodily fluids, purified DNA and RNA, enzymes, bacterial cultures, body parts, and whole animals. In order to perform experiments that yield quality results, samples need to be stored properly in order to preserve their activity or integrity. Beginning students and…
Is Supercoiled DNA Derailing Your Cloning?
The presence of supercoiled plasmid DNA on a gel can be inconvenient for molecular biologists, especially beginners, because it is easy to misinterpret. But what is supercoiled DNA? And why does it occur? In today’s article, we’ll talk about how to recognize supercoiled DNA on a gel and how to keep it from derailing your…