Dr Jennifer Redig
I am currently a Managing Editor at Bitesizebio. I have a Masters of Clinical Research, and a PhD in Molecular & Medical Genetics. However I love keeping up with a wide variety of scientific topics - making my work as a Managing Editor at BitesizeBio very enjoyable. I am passionate about academic reform and being a mom. Connect with me on Twitter and Facebook! Or visit my blog about academic reform www.HowScienceIsMade.com
Articles by Dr Jennifer Redig:
Slides 101
Would you eat your spaghetti dinner without a plate? No, of course not! It would make a big mess and be ugly to look at. Instead you NEED something to put that spaghetti on, to contain it, to keep it clean, to make it look nice – a bowl, a plate, SOMETHING! By the same…
Clean Up Your Act! How To Clean Up PCR Contamination
You carefully set up your PCR, excitedly waited for it to finish, ran your gel, and waited for the big reveal. But instead of seeing what you hoped (a nice clean gel), you see a big fat mess—extra bands and, most disturbingly, bands in your negative control. So, what are you to do? How do…
Digital Pathology – why you need it and how to choose the best camera for it
Yup, we really are in the digital age…even the pathology is digital. Facebook, Instagram, Tumblr. It has never been easier to take pictures and share them. The digital revolution is upon us and nothing is safe, even your pathology samples. Digitizing your pathology samples can help you better organize and manage pathology for later. And…
The Devil is in the Details: How to Setup a PCR Laboratory
There is a right way and a wrong way to set up a PCR laboratory. Because of PCR’s tremendous ability to amplify small quantities of DNA/RNA template, even the smallest of template contamination can become a huge problem in PCR. However, contamination does not have to be a problem in your laboratory. Read below to…
Keeping ’em Alive! Incubators and Chambers for Live-Cell Imaging
Live-cell imaging is a powerful technique that allows you to image dynamic cell processes, such as protein trafficking, signal transduction, endocytosis, and exocytosis, etc. However, to perform your own live-cell imaging you need the right equipment, most notably a live-cell imaging chamber or incubator. Keeping ‘em alive! Live-cell imaging differs from conventional imaging in that…
Just What Do All These Additives Do?
Every PCR battle is the same: Too little amplification of your target DNA versus too much amplification of off-target DNA. But you can win the PCR battle and amaze your co-workers by mastering the use of PCR additives. PCR additives usually work one of two ways: 1) By reducing secondary DNA structures and thus increasing…
“Where the hell did my signal go?” AKA The Problems (and Uses) of ‘Photobleaching’ in Microscopy and Imaging
Like most things in this world, fluorophores are mortal, and eventually your once bright fluorescent image will inevitably fade to black. This fading or ‘photobleaching’ of fluorescent signal can make imaging difficult, especially if you are trying to take quantitative images. Read below to learn what causes photobleaching of your fluorophores and how best to…
Let me introduce you to ELISA…No, not the girl…The assay.
An ELISA (Enzyme-Linked ImmunoSorbant Assay) is a popular assay that uses antibodies and color change to detect proteins, peptides, antibodies or biomolecules in complex mixtures. ELISAs are popular because they are reliable, specific, easy to use, and can easily be scaled up to process multiple samples simultaneously. How an ELISA is Done: In an ELISA,…
Welcome to the Dark Side…Dark Field Microscopy That Is!
We all know that stars are easier to see against the dark background of the night than they are to see against the bright sky of day. Well did you also know that the same may be true of your microscope specimen? Dark field microscopy is a popular microscope technique that makes your unstained transparent…
What is PCR? – The Beginner’s Guide
PCR is THE technique of modern molecular biology labs. If you need to copy, sequence or quantify DNA , you need to know PCR. In short, PCR (polymerase chain reaction) is a biochemical technique that uses thermocycling and enzymes to quickly and reliably copy DNA, and it was invented in a flash of inspiration by a…
Advanced Sectioning Techniques: How to Section Difficult Tissues.
Has this ever been your experience: You lovingly harvest, fix and embed your tissue, only to have your tissue shatter, wrinkle or otherwise look horrible when you section it? Well, before you throw your microtome across the room (if you can pick it up in the first place!), then read this article. Some tissues are…
Immunohistochemistry Basics: Blocking Non-Specific Staining
Immunohistochemistry staining uses antibodies to detect epitopes for targeted staining and while this assay is easy in theory, in practice it is finicky! Achieving good immunohistochemistry signal-to-noise ratio involves many factors, including a good blocking protocol. Insufficient blocking will result in high background noise and over-blocking can mask your signal. Read below to learn about…
How To Fix Isolated And In Situ Primary Cells
Unlike immortalized cells lines, primary cells can only be kept in cell culture for a finite period of time, if at all. Therefore, you often need to obtain primary cells directly from an animal source. After which, you may fix and image the primary cells in situ (as part of the whole organ), or you…
How To Fix Suspension Cells For Microscopy And Imaging
Last week I discussed how to fix adherent cells for imaging. Fixing adherent cells was easy because you can directly grow then on your cover slips. However, suspension cells – which grow suspended in media and not on any surface – cannot be attached to your cover slips the same way. Read below to learn…
How To Fix Adherent Cells For Microscopy And Imaging
Before you can image your adherent cells you need to fix them to your microscope slides. Luckily for you- this is fairly easy to do. Thanks to the fact that adherent cells are, well, adherent, and like to grow on plastic or glass. The same stuff your microscope slides and covers are made off! Below…
Cell and Tissue Fixation 101- Top Tips For Protocol Optimization
You just can’t put raw tissue or cell samples on your slides and expect good histology results! Instead you must preserve or ‘fix’ your samples. Fixing ensures that your cell structures stay intact and that your antigens are immobilized. Ideally, fixation would also still permit unfettered access of your antibodies to your antigens. However, as…
Avoid These Pitfalls: Seven (Not So Deadly) Histology Sins
The following is a list of seven common histology blunders. All of which I have personally witnessed (supposedly intelligent and otherwise excellent) scientists commit. Read below to avoid making the same transgressions next time you are at the bench. (1) Letting your samples dry out. After deparaffinizing and rehydrating your slides, it is important that…
