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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!
We must preserve microorganisms for research continuity and to prevent frustrating delays. Here are several reliable ways to do it.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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?
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
If you are interested in the sensory or motor function of your zebrafish model, this is the test to try.
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.
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.
Tips and tricks to get the most optimum and consistent results in a DSS-induced colitis model
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.
Feeder cells – your solution to difficult-to-grow cell problems. Find out what they are, why to use them, and how.
Working with mice doesn’t have to be intimidating. Read these tips to help keep your mouse-based experiments running smoothly.
Are you struggling to answer your research question using established models? Consider going rogue and switching to a non-model organism!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
There is an overwhelming selection of cell lines available, make sure you pick the right one for your work using our tips.
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.
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.
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,…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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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