24/03/10: Free PCR Poster
March 24, 2010 by Peter · Leave a Comment
Agilent has made a free poster for PCR applications, featuring a nice image of a woolly mammoth skeleton. You can get your free poster at the following link: http://www.stratagene.com/freepcrposter/ . Did I mention that you need to fill in a short questionnaire as well? Don’t worry – it’s a small price to pay and it might well be that there is a product out there that will enhance your research.
24/03/10: Learn more about Agilent’s qPCR products
March 24, 2010 by Peter · Leave a Comment
To correspond with the Brilliant III launch (qPCR reagents optimized for fast cycling instruments), there is now a dedicated qPCR page on Agilent’s Open Genomics website. Follow this link: http://bebrilliant-qpcr.com/
17/03/10: SureSelect / NGS seminar Helskinki, 13th April
March 17, 2010 by Peter · Leave a Comment
If you are looking for an excuse to visit any collaborators in Finland, please be aware that there will be a seminar on NGS / SureSelect, held at Biomedicum Helsinki, 13th April 2010, starting at 9 AM. Speakers include Lars Paulin from Petri Auvinen’s laboratory and Pekka Ellonen from FIMM. Use the contact page if you are interested and want more details.
17/03/10: New SureSelect publication in Nature Genetics
March 17, 2010 by Peter · Leave a Comment
PHF6 and acute lymphoblastic leukemia
Adolfo Ferrando and colleagues identify frequent inactivating mutations and deletions in the X chromosome gene PHF6 in T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia. PHF6 mutations are found almost exclusively in males and are associated with leukemias driven by aberrant expression of TLX1 and TLX3.
Learn more about the paper here.
16/03/10: Trade up your old Agilent / V11 Microplate Labeler
March 16, 2010 by Peter · Leave a Comment
Agilent are offering existing users of their microplate barcode labeler a 25% trade up option. If you are interested in this, or just in a microplate barcode labeler in general, please contact You Do Bio.
What does the Agilent Microplate Labeler offer?
- Enhanced repeatability and reliability: Extended MTBA (Mean Time Between Assists)
- Crisper images: 600 dpi high resolution print
- Range of symbologies: 1D and 2D symbols
- High flexibility: print and apply up to four labels per plate with two convenient automated placement positions
- High throughput: four seconds per label
- Durability: labels can withstand reagents (including DMSO) and temperatures from
-80°C to 100°C - Automation option: combine labeler with the Agilent BenchCel Microplate Handler to create a Print-and-Apply Workstation
12/03/10: Gene Expression FFPE Quick Guide
March 12, 2010 by Peter · Leave a Comment
Agilent has developed their Gene Expression Workflow: Quick Guide. This guide outlines in detail the steps recommended for processing FFPE samples from RNA isolation through to hybridization to microarrays.
If you have any questions about this, please use the Contact Page.
11/03/10: IDT’s free “qPCR Application Guide” now available
March 11, 2010 by Peter · 2 Comments
I am pleased to announce that IDT have produced an excellent qPCR Application Guide, with over 70 pages of guidance to users on the entire qPCR process, from RNA isolation to DNA analysis. Whether you are new to qPCR, or experienced, the document can be used to obtain a basic understanding of all that is involved in the experimental setup, performance and analysis.
Importantly, this document follows the recommendations provided in the MIQE Guidelines: Minimum Information for Publication of Quantitative Real-Time PCR Experiments.
If you are interested in a copy, please contact me. Copies are free.
09/03/10: New Agilent Fish Species Identification Method
March 9, 2010 by Peter · Leave a Comment
Agilent Technologies has announced a system that speeds and simplifies the use of DNA to identify fish species in food products, making this highly-accurate technique feasible for routine verification of seafood labeling and detecting species substitutions.
The Agilent Fish Species Identification method matches samples to a species DNA database. The system uses an Agilent DNA Fish Species ID Ensemble with an Agilent 2100 Bioanalyzer lab-on-a-chip system, and specialized RFLP Decoder Software. The DNA analysis method is based on polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). The method is far more accurate and robust than existing protein-based tests, and also reduces the time required to confirm species in food from days to hours. Routine DNA analysis now becomes feasible for use by seafood processors, distributors, large retailers, public interest organizations and government agencies.
The system works with fish that is fresh, frozen, dried, salted or minced, and also works with fish fins. The RFLP Decoder Software contains experimentally-derived patterns from more than 50 species, and additional species also can be added by the user.
The easy-to-use PCR-RFLP method was developed by Campden BRI in the UK. The method’s simplicity is enhanced by conveniently packaged reagents, the highly-automated lab-on-a-chip platform, and the equally easy-to-use RFLP pattern matching software. The system is currently available to early-access users. Existing early-access users include a major European seafood products manufacturer as well as several universities and governmental organizations in the United States and Europe.
If you’re based in Denmark and want to learn more about this method, you are welcome to contact You Do Bio.
08/03/10: Free NGS e-seminars, 11th and 18th March
March 8, 2010 by Peter · Leave a Comment
Just a short post to notify you of the next two free e-seminars on NGS from Agilent. You can get details from the PDF file here.
07/03/10: Music for your genes?
March 7, 2010 by Peter · Leave a Comment
I came across this report on the Dansk Radio website. Two musicians and a scientist from Odense University Hospital, Moustapha Kassem, have created music “Soundmapping the Genes,” an aural interpretation of DNA and protein synthesis. There is a CD available and a couple of sample downloads at this page: Musik til Dine Gener. Even if the music is not to your taste, perhaps you should play it to your tubes the next time you run a PCR, or perhaps to encourage your cells to express that really difficult protein?
05/03/10: DTU Multi-Assay Core (DMAC) – Services available
March 5, 2010 by Peter · Leave a Comment
In the absence of a “Useful Links” page, I just wanted to post this link to the Multi-Assay Core facility at DTU (DMAC). They offer services to researchers throughout Denmark including (amongst others) access and experience in Agilent microarrays, where they have Agilent’s top-of-the-range Scanner.
Not so long ago, I was able to direct a researcher in Denmark to DMAC, who performed a much-needed requirement for microarray-based data from Agilent arrays. I thoroughly recommend them.
03/03/10: Agilent office Denmark re-locating
March 3, 2010 by Peter · Leave a Comment
From Monday 8th March 2010, Agilent’s Danish office will be at a new location:
Agilent Technologies Denmark Science Park Scion DTU Venlighedsvej 6 DK-2970 Horsholm Denmark
02/03/10: Free e-Seminar on “Advances in Target Enrichment Methods”
March 2, 2010 by Peter · Leave a Comment
Agilent is holding a free e-Seminar, called “Advances in Target Enrichment Methods” this Thursday, March 4th at 1700 CET. This seminar will feature an update on Agilent’s SureSelect products, as was recently presented at the AGBT meeting.
You will need to register for the meeting if you are interested. That can be done here.
01/03/10: SureSelect supports Barcoding and Indexing
March 1, 2010 by Peter · Leave a Comment
Hot news for researchers doing next-generation sequencing (NGS): Agilent recently announced that the SureSelect Target Enrichment system supports multiplexed DNA sequencing of 12 to 16 samples per lane, reducing costs and significantly increasing throughput.
Protocols are robust and easy to follow, enabling multiple samples to be run together, but their data to be analyzed separately. The kits are optimized for the Illumina Genome Analyzer and the Applied Biosystems SOLiD platform. The Illumina can sequence 12 samples per lane for a total of 96 samples per run. The SOLiD platform can sequence 16 samples per quadrant or octet, allowing up to 256 samples to be processed per run.
01/03/10: release of Ultra-Fast qPCR Master Mixes
March 1, 2010 by Peter · Leave a Comment
Agilent’s Stratagene division has announced the launch of their 3rd generation, Brilliant III Ultra-Fast QPCR and QRT-PCR Master Mixes. These offer the same superior sensitivity for improved quantification and reproducibility as Stratagene’s Brilliant II reagents, with the added benefit of fast cycling times and reduced primer-dimer/non-specific product formation.
The Brilliant III Ultra-Fast qPCR and QRT-PCR Master Mix reagents are designed to provide the fastest cycling times on any real-time PCR instrument. These reagents feature a newly engineered Taq, delivering a faster extension rate, combined with a novel hot-start technology to minimize non-specific amplification. The ultra-fast reagents allow the completion of real-time experiments in less than 40 minutes, giving researchers quicker access to their data, without compromising data reproducibility and quality.
These new reagents have been developed and validated on the ABI StepOnePlus and BioRad CFX96 systems. In addition, Brilliant III is being tested on several other fast qPCR systems.
The kits provide researchers with the flexibility to perform a variety of applications, including gene expression analysis, pathogen detection and SNP genotyping. The reagents are validated across a range of fast, real-time PCR systems and across a range of templates and targets.
01/03/10: Mx qPCR Instrument Promotion – offer extended to 31/12/10!
March 1, 2010 by Peter · Leave a Comment
Become an owner of an MX3005P qPCR instrument for less than DKK 130K!
In order to qualify, you need to purchase any 2 Stratagene Brilliant II Master Mixes and you get a large discount on the instrument list price. Take a look at this PDF file to learn more: Mx for 20K Flier
You can also sign up for a free demonstration at this link.
Don’t forget that we have great prices on PrimeTime qPCR primer-probe sets from IDT!
If you have any further questions, use the contact form on the “About” page to submit your question.
