Mentors At Your Benchside

#26 — Cryo-EM is a revolutionary imaging method that lets us see complex biostructures at higher and higher resolutions. But do you understand the mind-blowing science behind this technique? And what is cryo-electron microscopy, anyway? Why is the cryogenic aspect important, and how did it seemingly go from nothing to the big time? In the latest episode of Mentors At Your Benchside, we answer all of these questions and more! Check out the corresponding online article to access loads of follow-up resources to deepen your understanding of this topic.[1] Also, check out our related articles covering crucial sample preparation considerations for cryo-EM and its history from obscure to Nobel Prize winner. [2,3] Resources: 1. What Is Cryo-Electron Microscopy? Available at: https://bitesizebio.com/62871/what-is-cryo-electron-microscopy/ 2. Cryo-EM Sample Prep: 5 Crucial Considerations. Available at: https://bitesizebio.com/62619/cryo-em-sample-prep/ 3. A Short History of Cryo-Electron Microscopy: Available at:

#25 — Phenol extraction of DNA is a commonly used method for removing proteins from nucleic acids; for example, to remove proteins from cell lysate during genomic DNA preparation. It's commonly used, but not well understood. Listen to this episode to get a quick explanation of how phenol extraction of DNA works. Visit the original article to see handy diagrams on how phenol extraction works. [1] To get more help and advice on DNA extraction, read our related articles and discover how chloroform can clean up your phenol extractions, [2] learn how ethanol precipitation works, [3] and decide if ethanol or isopropanol is best for precipitating your samples. [4] Resources: 1. The Basics: How Phenol Extraction of DNA Works. Available at: https://bitesizebio.com/384/the-basics-how-phenol-extraction-works/ 2. Practical Application of Phenol-Chloroform Extraction. Available at: https://bitesizebio.com/3651/practical-application-of-phenol-chloroform-extraction/ 3. Ethanol Precipitation of DNA and RNA: How it Work

#24 — How can you best prepare for a postdoc interview? Here we cover 10 questions that are often encountered during the job-hunting process. Preparing answers to these questions, alongside doing some background research about the research group and PI, can give you the edge in securing that postdoc. You can recap these top 10 questions anytime by visiting the full article on popular postdoc interview questions. [1] If you are looking for further interview advice, make sure you check out our top 10 interview tips, consider how you might concisely describe your research so far, and get advice on what to wear for the interview. Resources: 1. Postdoc Interview Preparation: Sample Questions and Answers. Available at: https://bitesizebio.com/10393/postdoc-interview-preparation-sample-questions-and-answers/ 2. 10 Great Tips To Make A Good Impression At Your Interview. Available at: https://bitesizebio.com/6696/10-great-tips-to-make-a-good-impression-at-your-interview/ 3. Can You Describe Your Research in 30

#23 — Creativity in Science: How a Good Imagination Can Help Your Research If you're stuck in a research rut in the lab, developing your creativity can help you find new solutions to current problems that may be impeding your scientific progress. In this episode, we explore 3 important questions you should consider to help spark your creativity in the lab and provide 8 simple tips to help achieve this. Read the full article on boosting your creativity in science. [1] If you are looking for further advice, make sure you listen to our Happy Scientist Podcast episode on Imagination, which covers even more ways to boost your imagination and creativity. [2] Consider the importance of allowing yourself time to think and reflect. [3] Finally, listen to this episode of the Microscopists featuring Eric Betzig, where the Nobel Laureate reveals how his biggest ideas came during his two periods of unemployment. [3] Resources: 1. Creativity in Science: How a Good Imagination Can Help Your Research. Available at: ht

#22 — Research often requires you to use dangerous chemicals. From caustic acids and bases to pH solutions and toxic reducing agents, chemical hazards abound in the lab. In this episode, we'll take a look at ten dangerous chemicals in the lab and the harm they can cause you. Want to develop your understanding of chemical safety? Why not read the full article, [1] where you'll find lots of helpful resources and further reading? If you fancy a deeper dive into all aspects of lab safety, then check out the Bitesize Bio lab safety eBook. [2] If you're a bit rusty on your good laboratory practice, definitely read 10 Stupid Lab Safety Mistakes [3] and see how many sins you commit. And finally, we all rely on our PPE for protection and safety. Be sure to take a look at our 10 Common PPE Sins for a quick brush-up. [4] Resources: 1. Ten Bad Chemicals in the Lab and What They do to You! Available at: https://bitesizebio.com/10470/ten-bad-chemicals-in-the-lab-and-what-they-do-to-you/ 2. The Bitesize Bio Guide to

#21 — Do you know the difference between cell confluency and cell number? Can you measure cell confluency accurately? Cell confluency measurements are essential in cell-based experiments. Listen to this episode to learn what cell confluency is and the different quantification methods to measure it. Read the original article to get visual guides to help you understand and measure your cell confluency accurately. [1] Do you want more information to help you perfect your cell culture? Check out related articles to learn how to get the right passage number for your cells and how to culture adherent cells like HEK293s. [2,3] Resources: 1. How Confluent Are Your Cells? A Beginner’s Guide to Measuring Cell Culture Confluency. Available at: https://bitesizebio.com/63887/cell-confluency/ 2. What’s in a Number: Getting the Right Passage in Cell Culture. Available at: https://bitesizebio.com/13685/cell-culture-passage-number-explained/ 3. What the HEK? A Beginner’s Guide to HEK293 Cells. Available at: https://bitesiz

#20 — Have you ever wondered how Laemmli buffer actually works? In this episode of Mentors At Your Benchside, we talk through the different components of Laemmli buffer, what they do and why they are essential for your SDS-PAGE experiments. Read the full article to learn more about this buffer and get a handy Laemmli buffer recipe. [1] Looking for more information on SDS-PAGE? Discover the theory behind SDS-PAGE and get advice on how you can cast the perfect SDS-PAGE gel. [2,3] You can also download our useful SDS-PAGE protocol PDF that contains simple buffer recipes, gel recipes, and a neat casting protocol. [4] Resources: 1. Laemmli Buffer: What Is It for Anyway? Available at: https://bitesizebio.com/44540/laemmli-buffer-what-is-it-for-anyway/ 2. How SDS-PAGE Works. Available at: https://bitesizebio.com/580/how-sds-page-works/ 3. A Simple SDS-PAGE Gel Recipe and 10-Step Casting Protocol for Perfect Gels. Available at: https://bitesizebio.com/59429/sds-page-gel-recipe/ 4. Bitesize Bio's SDS-PAGE Protocol

#19 — Listen to this episode to discover what alternative splicing is, the history of how it was discovered, and get key examples of splicing in action. Read the full article to learn more about alternative splicing, including a visual diagram of how splicing works. [1] Read our related articles to find out how alternative splicing can affect your experiments and discover methods for detecting splice variants. [2,3] Resources: 1. What is Alternative Splicing, and Why Is It Important? Available at: https://bitesizebio.com/10148/what-is-alternative-splicing-and-why-is-it-important/ 2. How Can A Single Mutation Affect Splicing Regulation? Available at: https://bitesizebio.com/10307/how-can-a-single-mutation-affect-splicing-regulation/ 3. How to Detect Alternative Splicing Variants. Available at: https://bitesizebio.com/10138/how-to-detect-alternative-splicing-variants/

#18 — Why are SDS-PAGE gels run vertically? What would happen if we ran them horizontally? Has anyone ever tried? Discover the answers to these questions and more in this episode of Mentors At Your Benchside. To see what others are saying and join in the conversation, head over to the comments section in the original article on why SDS-PAGE is run vertically. [1] If this episode has ignited your desire for answers, Check out some of our related articles to learn the how SDS-PAGE works and discover whether running your SDS-PAGE gels with constant current or constant voltage is best. [2,3] Resources: 1. Why Is SDS-PAGE Run Vertically? Here are 3 Great Answers. Available at: https://bitesizebio.com/10699/why-is-sds-page-run-vertically/ 2. How SDS-PAGE Works. Available at: https://bitesizebio.com/580/how-sds-page-works/ 3. Constant Current or Voltage in SDS-PAGE: The Great Debate. Available at: https://bitesizebio.com/51744/constant-current-or-voltage-in-sds-page/

#17 — Why do some plasmids give a better protein yield than others? It may have a lot to do with the plasmid copy number. In this episode, we talk about what plasmid copy number means, why it is important and how you can manipulate it to get the most out of your experiments. To learn more about plasmid copy number, read the full article on our site. [1] Resources: 1. https://bitesizebio.com/22824/how-to-manipulate-plasmid-copy-number/

#16 — Is your viva on the horizon? Many people think viva exams are going to be painful. But what if you could make your viva go smoothly and maybe even enjoy it? Listen to our top 10 viva tips to get advice from a viva survivor. To learn more about surviving your viva, read the full article on our site. [1] Resources: 1. https://bitesizebio.com/10109/top-10-tips-for-viva-success/

#15 — In the last few years, CRISPR-Cas9 has become a popular genome editing tool, but have you ever wondered where it came from? In this episode, we explore the history of CRISPR-Cas9, from the first CRISPR discovery in 1987 to current applications in targeted genome and epigenome editing. Read the full article to learn more about the history of CRISPR-Cas9 and to see a timeline of discoveries. [1] Resources: 1. https://bitesizebio.com/47927/history-crispr/

#14 — Do you know how accurate and precise your measurements are? Imprecise and inaccurate measurements can have a dramatic impact on your results. Listen to get 8 top tips for making your measurements more accurate and precise. To learn more about accuracy and precision, read the full article on our site. [1] Resources: 1. https://bitesizebio.com/55470/accuracy-and-precision/

#13 — There are now hundreds of different tailored fluorescent proteins to choose from that can improve your experiments in the lab. What are the key considerations when choosing a fluorescent protein for your experiment? Should you consider using a fancy new fluorescent protein? Where can you find the best resources to help you out? Find out the answers to these and more in this episode of Mentors At Your Benchside. Please read the full article, which includes our super helpful table of fluorescent proteins and their properties. [1] Resources: 1. https://bitesizebio.com/54287/choosing-a-fluorescent-protein/

#12 — As a follow-up to our episode about ethanol precipitation of DNA and RNA, [1] this episode explains the differences between DNA precipitation in ethanol and isopropanol, helping you to figure out which method is the best choice for your experiment. Read the full article for handy protocol tips, the differences between using ethanol and isopropanol, and when to use each method. [2] Resources: 1. https://bitesizebio.com/2007/12/04/the-basics-how-ethanol-precipitation-of-dna-and-rna-works/ 2. https://bitesizebio.com/2839/dna-precipitation-ethanol-vs-isopropanol/

#11 — Fluorescence is undoubtedly one of the most important and useful tools in a biologist’s toolbox. But do you actually know how fluorescence works? In this episode, discover what the three steps of fluorescence are, and how fluorescence can be used in flow cytometry. Read the full article for a breakdown of the key points of fluorescence. [1] Resources: 1. https://bitesizebio.com/32973/fluorescent-molecules/

#10 — As you probably know, there are different types of ethanol found in biology labs. It's a versatile solvent used in dozens of experiments and procedures, including disinfection, DNA precipitation, and tissue dehydration. But which type of ethanol should you use for your application? What's the difference between the types of ethanol in your lab? And how do you handle it appropriately? In this episode, we answer these questions, providing you with the information you need to keep your research producing top-notch results. Read the full article on Which Type of Ethanol You Should Use for links to additional resources on laboratory applications of ethanol. [1] Resources: 1. https://bitesizebio.com/13518/which-type-of-ethanol-should-i-use/

#9 — One of the most commonly used cell lines in molecular biology labs is the Human Embryonic Kidney HEK293 cell line. Listen to this episode to find out all about the history of HEK293 cells and how to work with them. Read the full article for more details about working with HEK293 cells. [1] Resources: 1. https://bitesizebio.com/45489/guide-to-hek293-cells/

#8 — You probably have or will use SDS-PAGE at some point to separate proteins, but do you really understand how this technique works? Knowing how SDS-PAGE works means you can tweak and troubleshoot your technique as well as impress your supervisor and lab mates. In this episode, we take you through how SDS-PAGE works, including what SDS does, why you need to use a reducing agent like DTT or beta-mercaptoethanol, and the critical importance of the stacking gel. Read the full How SDS-PAGE Works article to see helpful visuals for how this technique works and access the table showing the protein sizes that different acrylamide percentages can separate. [1] Expand your knowledge by buffing up on Laemmli buffer and get our Guide to Gradient Gels. [2,3] If you pour your own SDS-PAGE gels, take a deep dive into the chemistry of how gels work and learn how to pour perfect gels every time with our Simple SDS-PAGE Gel Recipe with 10-Step Casting Protocol. [4] Resources: 1. How SDS-PAGE Works. Available at: https://

#7 — In this episode, we cover how jellyfish were able to have a huge impact on biology through the discovery and development of GFP. Using GFP is now ubiquitous in pretty much all fields in biology, and we take you through how three Nobel Laureates developed this valuable research tool. [1] Many of the applications for GFP are microscopy-based, and we discuss how you can utilize GFP for translational and transcriptional fusions, FRAP, FLIP and FRET experiments in the lab. [2,3] Read the full article for more useful links, hints, and tips on using GFP in your experiments. [4] Resources: 1. Press release. NobelPrize.org. Nobel Prize Outreach AB 2022. Fri. 1 Jul 2022. Available at: https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/chemistry/2008/press-release/ 2. Fun With FRAP! Fluorescence Recovery After Photobleaching for Confocal Microscopy. Available at: https://bitesizebio.com/19946/fun-with-frap-fluorescence-recovery-after-photobleaching-for-confocal-microscopy/ 3. Using Flow Cytometry for Fluorescence Resonance Ener