Courtesy of Applied Biosystems  THE TAQMAN PROCEDURE: Applied Biosystems' TaqMan procedure relies on the 5'-to-3' exonuclease activity of Taq polymerase. The TaqMan probe bears a fluoro-phore at the 5' end and a quencher on the 3' end, rendering the molecule non-fluorescent. During amplification, the probe binds to the template between the two PCR primers. When the polymerase encounters the probe, it starts chewing away at the end, releasing the fluorophore into solution, where it is free

New research reveals where the virus was hiding and hints at how to truly purge it from the body.

The scientific community said goodbye to Sydney Brenner, Paul Greengard, Patricia Bath, and a number of other leading researchers this year.

The Scientist’s annual competition uncovered a bonanza of interesting technologies that made their way onto the market and into labs this year.

From a rapid molecular test for COVID-19 to tools that can characterize the antibodies produced in the plasma of patients recovering from the disease, this year’s winners reflect the research community’s shared focus in a challenging year.

From picking standards to finding those low-copy transcripts, experts offer solutions to users' dilemmas.

Nearly all scientists involved in basic biomedical research are familiar with the "Red Book" (Current Protocols in Molecular Biology)1 and Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual.2 These well-known, time-tested books are still considered "bibles" in research laboratories, containing a wide range of basic techniques used by most life scientists. However, as scientific studies and experimental designs become more intricate and specialized, so do the techniques involved. As a result, detailed, "spec

Potential perils from bioterrorism to bird flu are increasingly pushing proteomics researchers to identify molecules involved in the infection process.

Not so long ago, researchers had somewhat limited choices for locating and following a particular piece of DNA. A probe could be labeled using radioactivity, by kinasing an end or nick-translating the whole piece. A fragment of interest could be visualized (along with all other DNA and RNA species in the preparation) using ethidium bromide. With sufficient skill and patience an investigator could obtain from these rather crude techniques fairly impressive information, such as the precise 5' end

Nanotechnology hit the big time in July 1995, when it debuted on the television show, The Outer Limits. In an episode entitled "The New Breed," a scientist develops nanorobots capable of repairing damaged cells and correcting physical defects. But, like any good morality play, the experiment goes horribly wrong, turning a panacea into a nightmare. Clearly, nanotechnology makes for good science fiction, but scientists have been working to make it an interesting reality, too. Nanotechnology refers