Bioscience Technology articles from May 2008

Bioscience Technology archives from May 2008

RNA: more than a copier.
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] These days, RNA forms the root for a large collection of abbreviations and acronyms, composed of old favorites like mRNA and new variations such as miRNA and siRNA. Even that collection doesn't tell the whole story,...

Snapshot.
May 1, 2008... What cell biologists are studying. Cell Signaling 61.7 Apoptosis 46.8 Drug Development 46.0 Immunology 45.5 Cell Cycle 40.9 Drug Screening 37.4 Stem Cell Research ...

Monsters.(Editor's Note)
May 1, 2008... An article in the May 12 issue of The New Yorker magazine, by Margaret Talbot, focuses on cognitive scientist Irene Pepperburg and her work with parrots, primarily with a rather remarkable and now deceased bird named Alex (Avian Learning...

Surface plasmon resonance platform.(May's Innovations)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] SPR-Navi, a surface plasmon resonance (SPR) spectroscopy system, allows in situ determination of surface confined molecular interactions. It is suited to a range of applications, from optimization of biomaterial...

Flow cytometer.(May's Innovations)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The C6 Flow Cytometer System, a two-laser, six-detector analytical system that fits on a bench, includes the C6 cytometer, CFlow software and a PC. It has detectors to capture both forward and side-scattered light,...

PCR plates.(May's Innovations)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] New twin.tec PCR plates incorporate titanium dioxide, which gives the reaction chambers a bright white, opaque color. This results in up to a 10-fold increase in reflection of fluorescence, providing better data for...

Gradient thermal cycler.(May's Innovations)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] This thermal cycler provides temperature control and uniformity and allows quick temperature changes. An intuitive interface simplifies complicated protocols. Gradient capabilities expand the use of the cycler to...

Primary human epithelial cell cultures.(May's Innovations)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Supplied as complete kits that include specialized media for their propagation, these primary cell cultures provide an enriched population of progenitor cells from skin, cornea and bladder epithelia. These cells have...

Multiplex genotyping panels.(May's Innovations)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The ten Signet Genotyping Panels detect genetic variations including single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and other variants associated with a variety of health conditions including heart, blood and bone health,...

Tumor cell lines.(May's Innovations)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Bioware Ultra cell lines include a range of ultra-bright, light-producing tumor cell lines created for in vivo imaging applications. These cell lines provide brightness levels that allow detection of a single cancer...

Micro-incubation system.(May's Innovations)
May 1, 2008... The SmartSlide Micro-Incubation System is a family of integrated fluidics exchange micro-incubation products that work seamlessly with inverted microscopes. The system contains a compact, sterile and disposable SmartSlide-6 Micro-Incubator that...

NextBio announces life science search engine.(Research News)
May 1, 2008... Using the NextBio life science search engine, researchers and clinicians can mine the world's public life sciences data and literature, and can import their own experimental data into the NextBio search engine, share it with the community, and...

Whole-genome ChIP-sequencing services.(Research News)
May 1, 2008... Illumina, Inc. and Genpathway have formed a partnership to provide whole-genome chromatin immunoprecipitation (CHIP) sequencing services. Samples are prepared using Genpathway's FactorPath ChIP assays, and then sequenced by the Genome Analyzer...

EcoliHub launched.(Research News)
May 1, 2008... Purdue University has launched EcoliHub, an online source for Escherichia coli information. "E. coli is the most deeply understood organism at the molecular level," said Barry L. Wanner, a professor of biological sciences at Purdue who is...

Cellular assays on LabChip platform.(Research News)
May 1, 2008... Caliper Life Sciences, Inc. has announced a collaboration with DiscoveRx Corp. that enables functional cell-based G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) assays from DiscoveRx to be performed on Caliper's LabChip platforms. The combined offering...

Imaging yields insights into 'nanomedicine' for cancer treatment.(Research News)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Researchers at Purdue University have discovered a possible pathway for anti-tumor drugs to kill cancer cells and proposed design improvements for tiny drug-delivery particles for use in "nanomedicine." The...

Reagents transfect, label cells.(Transfection Focus)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] FeOfection and FeOsilence transfection reagents utilize uniform, lipid-coated iron oxide nanoparticles to facilitate DNA/siRNA binding and cellular uptake with minimal impact on cell viability. Additionally, due to...

Reagent provides 20-minute Transfection protocol.(Transfection Focus)
May 1, 2008... TrojanPORTER Transfection Reagent allows scientists to detach, plate and immediately transfect cells in a rapid 20-minute protocol. This eliminates the need to wait overnight for cells to reach log phase before adding plasmid DNA or siRNA. The...

Virus Purification Kits.(Transfection Focus)
May 1, 2008... Fast-Trap Virus Purification and Concentration Kits. for adenovirus and lentivirus purification, contain the components needed to accommodate the entire virus purification workflow. Purifying virus after propagation in host cells is a critical...

Lentiviral expression vectors.(Transfection Focus)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ViraPower HiPerform pLenti6.3 and pLenti7.3 cloning vectors offer viral delivery into--and boost expression in--hard-to-transfect mammalian cell lines. Using the woodchuck post-transcriptional regulatory element...

Mammalian Expression Vector System.(Transfection Focus)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] StrataClone Mammalian Expression Vector System combines accurate PCR amplification with reliable topoisomerase-based cloning and expression. In the protocol, add PCR product to the vector mix, incubate for 5 minutes...

High throughput microrna detection assay.(Biochemicals & Kits: Product News)
May 1, 2008... [GRAPHIC OMITTED] The Vantage product line (Marligen Biosciences, Inc.) includes reagent kits for purifying, labeling and detecting microRNAs. Vantage Total RNA and microRNA Purification Kits provide methods for isolating RNA from diverse...

Metabolite assay.(Biochemicals & Kits: Product News)
May 1, 2008... GreenScreen HC is a human cell-based genotoxicity screening assay used during lead compound optimization and candidate selection. The assay detects pro-genotoxins as well as all common mechanistic classes of genotoxin including mutagens,...

Ready-To-Transfect cells.(Biochemicals & Kits: Product News)
May 1, 2008... Available in HEK-293, HeLa, CHO-K1, NIH-3T3, and COS-l, Expresso Ready-To-Transfect Cells are specially treated, precounted, and pre-aliquoted versions of their standard counterparts. The cells are frozen in a state of suspended high...

RNAi controls.(Biochemicals & Kits: Product News)
May 1, 2008... AllStars Hs Cell Death Control siRNA targets ubiquitous human cell survival genes. Transfection of this siRNA blend results in a high degree of cell death which is visible by light microscopy, making it useful for siRNA transfection...

Affinity media.(Biochemicals & Kits: Product News)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Two products have been added to the CaptureSelect antibody line--affinity matrices for one-step purification of IgA and IgM. Human IgA affinity matrix contains an affinity ligand that binds to a domain that is...

HTRF terbium platform for GPCR screening.(Biochemicals & Kits: Product News)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] IP-One Tb and cAMP Tb assays incorporate Lumi4-Tb cryptate. Lumi4-Tb, a Terbium cryptate developed by Lumiphore, Inc., is licensed exclusively to Cisbio for drug discovery. HTRF technology detects molecular...

Gene expression from small numbers of cultured cells without RNA purification.(Biochemicals & Kits: Product News)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] TaqMan Cells-to-CT Kits (Applied Biosystems) reduce the amount of time necessary to prepare and analyze RNA from cultured mammalian cells using real-time PCR in applications such as siRNA-mediated gene silencing and...

GPCR cell lines.(Biochemicals & Kits: Product News)
May 1, 2008... Cell lines for Human GPR120, GPR41, CB1 and G alpha 16 allow users to evaluate GPCR response levels economically. Receptors are available for these therapeutic areas: Free fatty acid stimulation, adipose tissue and immune cell signaling, and...

Lentiviral expression vectors.(Biochemicals & Kits: Product News)
May 1, 2008... ViraPower HiPerform pLenti6.3 and pLenti7.3 (Invitrogen Corp.) cloning vectors offer efficient viral delivery into and boost expression at least four-fold in hard-to-transfect mammalian cell lines (see Figure). Using the woodchuck...

DNA extraction products.(Biochemicals & Kits: Product News)
May 1, 2008... prepGEM and forensicGEM DNA extraction kits are available in a variety of formats for specific applications and types of samples. The kits leverage the properties of thermophilic enzymes to conduct DNA extraction in a single closed tube. A...

Baculovirus titration kit.(Biochemicals & Kits: Product News)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The baculoQUANT one-step virus titration kit can provides accurate result within two hours without the need for plaque assays or immunoassays. It, is based on quantitative PCR, which uses a set of primers and a probe...

Peptide management program, consultation services.(Biochemicals & Kits: Product News)
May 1, 2008... A portfolio of peptides and related value-added and consultation services are offered to companies whose drug products are moving from discovery to development and commercialization. The comprehensive platform is comprised of a variety of...

Angiogenesis assays in slide format.(Biochemicals & Kits: Product News)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] A new carrier for angiogenesis assays, the p-Slide Angiogenesis, has been released by ibidi GmbH. The most established assays used to analyze new vessel formation in vitro are the 'tube formation' and the 'sprouting...

Violet glutathione detection reagent.(Biochemicals & Kits: Product News)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ThiolTracker Violet (Invitrogen Corp.), a thiol-reactive fluorescent probe, is useful for detecting intracellular reduced glutathione, which plays a central role in protecting mammalian cells against damage from free...

Reagent enhances PCR sensitivity.(Biochemicals & Kits: Product News)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] PCRboost enhances PCR and RT-PCR performance by improving sensitivity and specificity during amplification of genomic DNA or RNA templates. The product makes it easy to amplify templates that are traditionally...

Custom media, reagents.(Biochemicals & Kits: Product News)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Custom cell culture media and reagents offerings include mammalian cell culture media, insect cell media, plant cell media, molecular biology reagents and protein purification reagents. R&D and Pilot Plant quantity...

Protein purification resin.(Biochemicals & Kits: Product News)
May 1, 2008... Profinity exact fusion-tag resin is part of an expression and purification system that simplifies affinity purification and tag removal of fusion-tagged proteins, avoiding additional time and reagent costs. With cleavage incubation times...

Integrated liquid handling for HCS robotic pipettor.(Instruments & Systems: Robotics Focus)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] A Liquid Handling Module has been added to Thermo Fisher Scientific's ArrayScan VTI HCS Reader. Synchronous dispense-while-imaging capability, combined with kinetic image capture, a range of image analysis...

High-throughput cell analysis.(Instruments & Systems: Robotics Focus)
May 1, 2008... Beckman Coulter. Inc. has integrated its Cell Lab Quanta SC MPL into an automated "seed and feed" cell culture system. The integrated system provides data and cellular growth parameters for the evaluation of clone selection cell expansion and...

Robotic liquid pipettor.(Instruments & Systems: Robotics Focus)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Hudson SOLO dispenser supports up to 10 syringes and accommodates very tiny ( 10 [micro]L) aspirating and dispensing volumes. The unit can perform DNA transformations cherry picking and hit picking. An optional...

High throughput RNAi screening.(Instruments & Systems: Robotics Focus)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] CellaxessHT transfection system enables reagent-free delivery of genetic material to a range of biologically-relevant cell types with viability at a throughput of 50.000 wells per day. It addresses the need for...

Controlled sample oxidation and scintillation counting.(Instruments & Systems: Product News)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Combustion of C-14 or H-3 labeled biological samples hasproven to be "superior for efficient and reproducible scintillation counting. However, as each sample needs to be handled individually, the technology can be...

Protein detection system.(Instruments & Systems: Product News)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The SNAP i.d. protein detection system allows quick production of quality Western blots. The system is compatible with all membrane types and detection methods, such as chemiluminescence and fluorescence. Sensitivity...

Gel and graph digitizing software.(Instruments & Systems: Product News)
May 1, 2008... UN-SCAN-IT Gel Version 5.3 software for Mac OS X simplifies gels quantification. Mac and Windows features include dot blot analysis, clone drawing mode, lane analysis features, color and grayscale gel analysis, additional image formats,...

Fluorescence illumination system.(Instruments & Systems: Product News)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The X-Cite exacte is offered for live cell, high speed and quantitative imaging, all of which require illumination stability and precise repeatability. Controlling illumination variability reduces or even eliminates...

Illumminator lights wells for spectrophotometer.(Instruments & Systems: Product News)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The NanoDrop 8000 spectrophotometer takes full spectrum UV/VIS absorbance measurements of eight 1 [micro]l samples in 20 seconds. A sample position illuminator tracks samples to be measured by lighting wells from...

Meter measures nanoflow levels.(Instruments & Systems: Product News)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] FloTek digital nanoflow meter (Advion BioSystems, Inc.) allows Advion nanoLC (a nanoLC that provides two complementary MS analyses from one injection) determination of flow rates from existing nanoLC systems. The...

Absorbance Microplate Readers.(Instruments & Systems: Product News)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The iMark Absorbance Microplate Reader and the xMark Absorbance Microplate Spectrophotometer (both from Bio-Rad Laboratories) utilize Microplate Manager 6 (MPM6) software for operation and analysis. The software...

Software accelerates CT scan analysis.(Instruments & Systems: Product News)
May 1, 2008... AxRecon reduces the time needed to complete reconstruction of images from computed tomography scanners to minutes. It combines proprietary software acceleration libraries with the parallel processing power of NVIDIA Graphic Processing Units...

Laser scanning confocal.(Instruments & Systems: Product News)
May 1, 2008... The LSM 710 confocal fluorescence microscopy offers sensitivity, a high signal-to-noise ratio, flexibility for fluorescence dyes and multimodal experiments, as well as multi-photon detectors for deep optical penetration into biological...

UV/vis spectrophotometer.(Instruments & Systems: Product News)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The NanoVue UV/Visible spectrophotometer quickly and accurately quantifies DNA, RNA, oligo and protein samples. A drop and read sample plate eliminates cuvettes and capillaries. Sensitive measurement is provided of...

LIMS facilitates workflow creation.(Instruments & Systems: Product News)
May 1, 2008... Exemplar LIMSv2 features the Workflow Manager, which enables easy creation of complex workflows in minutes to track any laboratory procedure and enforce data collection at key points in any protocol. Enhancement of data management capabilities...

Accelerator increases sequence analysis performance.(Instruments & Systems: Product News)
May 1, 2008... The NextEngine accelerator (a field-programmable gate array) increases BLAST. HMM and Smith-Waterman performance. and optimizes short-length query sequences, relevant for short-read and SNP mapping, and siRNA and miRNA studies. HMM comparisons...

Pre-packed columns.(Instruments & Systems: Product News)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Pre-packed PRC 1 mL chromatography columns guarantee packing quality and reproducible performance on any standard liquid chromatograph with HyperCel and Ceramic HyperD sorbents. Users can select the appropriate...

Multi-mode plate reader.(Instruments & Systems: Product News)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Synergy 4 microplate reader combines a fluorescence filter-based and monochromator-based detection systems. The filter-based system can be used when high sensitivity or fast read speeds are a requirement. The...

Integrated GPC/SEC.(Instruments & Systems: Product News)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] This system, for the characterization of proteins, protein conjugates and other compounds, features an integrated Triple Detector Array (TDA) comprised of a Low Angle Light Scattering (LALS) detector; a GPCmax pump;...

Automated blood fractionation system.(Instruments & Systems: Product News)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] High throughput blood fractionation system is used to extract buffy coat from whole blood samples. The unit can process up to 500 samples per day, and incorporates Vision System technology, which measures the height...

Label-free analysis system.(Instruments & Systems: Product News)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The Octet RED System offers ease-of-use, sensitivity, and throughput for the analysis of small molecules, peptides and proteins. The degree to which a drug compound binds to a therapeutic target helps predict a drug...

Molecular imaging NMR.(Instruments & Systems: Product News)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The apex-ultra FTMS (Fourier Transform Mass Spectrometer) equipped with the sensitive SmartBeam MALDI ion funnel source is suited for tissue imaging of small molecules, including drugs from animals dosed at...

Ultra-fast LC.(Instruments & Systems: Product News)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Prominence UFLCXR ultra-fast liquid chromatograph features a Direct Injection with Isolated Metering System (DIIMS), which offers speed, precision, linearity and low carry-over. Optimized for high-speed analysis...

Animal handling equipment.(Animal Research Focus)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Standard and customized animal handling equipment line includes bedding disposal cabinets, animal isolators, necropsy work stations, customized options for cage changing, and Class II biological safety cabinets....

Bedding disposal workstation.(Animal Research Focus)
May 1, 2008... VIVA bedding disposal workstation is offered for use in labs housing rodents. Cage cleaning and bedding disposal procedures are made simple and safer by this mobile workstation, which protects personnel and the lab environment from exposure to...

Differential Electrometer.(Animal Research Focus)
May 1, 2008... HiZ-223 Dual Channel Differential Electrometer, a high-input impedance unit, features two headstages that allow the first stage of amplification to take place at the electrode site. For measurement of high resistance ion-selective...

Measure body composition and fluid status.(Animal Research Focus)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The portable ImpediVet System measures body composition and fluid status. It uses BioImpedance Spectroscopy to obtain body composition values such as intracellular water, extracellular water, total body water, fat...

Labware for low-temperature storage.(Product News)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The low-temperature storage starter pack includes a selection of screw top tubes (0.5, 1.1 and 1.4 ml) to suit most applications. A 'single turn' capping mechanism makes accessing and securing samples simple. To...

Microplate Shaker.(Product News)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] tHE PHMP-4 Microplate Shaker accommodates four standard-depth 96 or 384-well microplates. A bi-directional heating system provides temperature stability and uniformity. Heated-lid and heated-base combination prevents...

Reach-in incubator.(Product News)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] MCO-80IC incubator provides CO2 and temperature control and anti-contamination measures. With a capacity of 30.1 cu/ft, it accommodates an apparatus holding up to five by seven roller bottles. Observe cultures...

Electronic Pipette Controller.(Product News)
May 1, 2008... The Socorex Profiller electro 446 Pipette Controller, for use with serological and volumetric pipettes, fits every hand comfortably. Its shape is suitable for work within laminar flow or microbiological safety cabinet. Suction and dispensing...

Evaporation System.(Product News)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] RapidVap Vacuum Evaporation System accelerates sample prep with vortex motion, and can process up to 110 samples. Mechanically-created vortex action increases surface area for fast evaporation and helps mix sample...

96-well multiplex array.(Product News)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Microarray offerings in an "ELISA-like" format are designed to increase the speed and volume of multiplex applications. The platform conforms to the SBS microplate standard and is amenable to the automated processing...

Single, multichannel electronic pipettors.(Product News)
May 1, 2008... The VISION family of handheld, single and multi-channel electronic pipettors features a Touch Wheel controller for intuitive and fast menu navigation. The pipettors offer fast volume selection, a large customizable, multi-color display, a...

Interferometer characterizes proteins, lipids.(Apparatus & Consumables: Product News)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] AnaLight 4D, for real time biophysical characterization of proteins, lipids and other biomolecules, provides quantitative structural data. The interferometer helps define how biomolecular conformation affects...

Benchtop refrigerated incubated shaker.(Apparatus & Consumables: Product News)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] SI-600R incubator/shaker is used in molecular biology, general incubation, and cell culture applications. With either orbital or reciprocating action, speed range is 10 to 300 rpm. The SI-600-R can be programmed for...

Animal activity monitor.(Apparatus & Consumables: Product News)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Panlab/Harvard IR Actimeter, offered for the study of spontaneous locomotor activity, rearing and, optionally, for hole-board test parameters for exploration in rodents, can be used for drug screening and phenotyping...

Ion exchange columns.(Apparatus & Consumables: Product News)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Clarity Oligo-WAX is offered in columns that can be used in HPLC and FPLC systems. The media incorporates a cross-linked weak ion exchanger bonded to a 10 [micro]m high-purity silica, which produces sharp peaks. The...

Microcentrifuge.(Apparatus & Consumables: Product News)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Cross-over centrifuge combines features of both micro- and multi-purpose benchtop units. Model 5430 can be equipped with 8 different rotors to meet virtually any micro-centrifugation application--it provides capacity...

Turntables for dish inoculation.(Apparatus & Consumables: Product News)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Sensorturn and Sensorturn pro turntables, for the inoculation of petri dishes up to 150 mm in diameter, utilize touch-free IR-sensor technology for simple operation with the movements of the hand. The units also can...

Gas Mixer.(Apparatus & Consumables: Product News)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Gas Mixer Q controls hypoxic or anoxic conditions during the study of complex cell interactions. Designed to interact with [INVIVO.sub.2] hypoxic workstations, it provides control over [O.sub.2] from 0.00-20.90% and...

Drug screening & confirmation: LC-MS-MS emerges on the forensic scene.(EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES IN Forensic Science)
May 1, 2008... Because of the popularity of crime shows in the media, scientific results in forensics are under more scrutiny than ever before. Therefore, demands are continually being placed on forensic labs, including toxicology, to analyze more samples in...

Target identification using genetic barcoding.(Best Practices)
May 1, 2008... In a paper published in the February 2008 issue of Science, Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) investigators Stephen Elledge and Gregory Hannon described the use of a fast and inexpensive screen for identifying potential targets for cancer...