Flow Cytometry By: Carolina A. Herrera Difficulty Rating: What is the general purpose? Flow cytometry is a technique used to count and analyze the size, shape, and properties of individual cells within a heterogenous (mixed) population of cells. In flow cytometry, cells are tagged with antibodies which are proteins produced by immune cells, cells that […]
By Mohamed Nasr Gram Staining Fun Rating: What is the general purpose? Gram staining is used to differentiate between two large groups of bacteria according to their cell wall structure differences (Figure 1). Why do we use it? Gram staining is an essential technique in the field of microbiology. It is used in a wide […]
By Sean Gay Technique Name: Behavior Assays: The Morris Water Maze [Fun] Rating: On a scale from fun and easy like Bill Nye the Science Guy to difficult for Einstein, the technique is….. One Einstein: The results are difficult to interpret. Four Bill Nyes: The actual experiment is easy to perform and generates loads of data. […]
By Devina Thiono Technique Name: Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) Fun Rating: Difficulty rating: (high focus and concentration needed to make sure you know which sample goes where!) What is the general purpose? ELISA is a tool that can be used to identify the presence of antibodies or antigens in a patient’s sample. An antigen is a […]
By Alec Chaves Technique Name: Radioactive Tracing in Metabolic Research Danger Rating: As the name suggests, this technique requires the scientist to handle radioactive materials such as tridium and 14-carbon, and if they do not wear protective equipment (gloves, eyewear, lab coat) and/or use unsafe lab practices, they could be accidentally exposed to the radiation which […]
Welcome to our first installment of “Technique Tuesdays”! With these posts about methods and tools, we hope to give you a window into what day-to-day life is like working in science. ——————————————————————————————————————————- By Anna Wheless Technique Name: Gel Electrophoresis Fun Rating: What is the general purpose? Gel electrophoresis separates charged molecules based on their sizes. Why […]