25/01/12: IDT Launch gBlocks, a Revolutionary New Approach to Gene Synthesis & Alternative to Cloning
January 25, 2012 by Peter · Leave a Comment
I am sooo excited about this new product from IDT. By making genes more affordable, while significantly increasing the speed of delivery, IDT are making synthetic genes more accessible to labs than they have been before.
In short, gBlocks™ Gene Fragments are double-stranded, sequence-verified DNA blocks up to 500 bp in length that can be shipped in 3–4 working days. You define the sequence. Prices are great (EUR 89/DKK 662/ SEK 787), which makes them a realistic alternative to cloning. Users can simply order individual gBlocks, assemble them and drop them straight into their favourite vector.
Anyway, enough from me. If you want to learn some more, please visit the IDT website and try them out!
Update, 27th January:
There are several resources on isothermal assembly, which is one of the recommended methods by which gBlocks can be used to create larger gene fragments. Here is the protocol on the Megason Lab wiki page. The page also contains a link to the original Nature Methods paper, describing the technique.
I wonder if it is just a matter of time before a commercial kit comes out for this…
07/09/11: Alert: MIQE Seminars in Copenhagen and Aarhus, September 27th and 29th
September 7, 2011 by Peter · Leave a Comment
Just a short post to inform researchers in Denmark about the upcoming MIQE Events in Copenhagen and Aarhus.
I am very lucky in being able to get Raza Ahmed from Agilent’s genomics team over for a few days. Raza has tons of experience in qPCR, having worked for Stratagene before they became part of Agilent. Raza has agreed to give an introduction to MIQE (read more on the Events page) that should serve to educate and inform researchers about the guidelines. There will be plenty of time to ask Raza about qPCR subjects not related to MIQE as well.
Please come along, say “hej”, listen and learn and enjoy a coffee.
27/06/11: Change of Address for You Do Bio
June 27, 2011 by Peter · Leave a Comment
As of June 10th, I have moved from Frederiksberg to the even greener pastures (and bigger garden) of Rødovre. Except for being rather difficult to pronounce (a Polish researcher I know said it was possibly the worst place to live as a foreigner in Denmark, because no native Dane would understand where you lived) – I am loving living inRødovre. I also get to cycle over 14 Km per day (if working from the city), so I should get healthier too! Anyway, for the record, You Do Bio’s new address is:
Hendriksholms Boulevard 59
2610 Rødovre
Denmark
23/06/11: BioCision Launches New Tools for Cell Cryopreservation
June 23, 2011 by Peter · Leave a Comment
An excerpt from a recent BioCision press release:
“BioCision, the coolprep™ company, today announced the release of three new cryopreservation systems: CoolCell® FTS™30, the first large-capacity, high-density cell freezing system; CoolCell SV2 for freezing cells in larger diameter 2ml vials; and CoolCell 5ml for large cryovial freezing. All CoolCell freezing solutions deliver a controlled freezing rate of -1oC/minute in a -80oC freezer, with high reproducibility of freezing profiles and consistent cell viability and function after thawing. The patented alloy-based technology allows maintenance-free operation and is a significant alternative to conventional freezing methods or programmable freezers.”
Read the full press release here.
12/04/11: Developments in Real-Time Symposium, June 13-17 2011, Prague
April 12, 2011 by Peter · Leave a Comment
Just a little reminder about TATAA Biocenter’s great qPCR event in Prague (comprising conference, exhibition and workshops), June 13th-17th. As usual, it has the highest quality speakers and training and is a must for both experienced and novice users.
Learn more and register at http://www.qpcrsymposium.eu/content/view/1/4/
By the way, students who attend the workshop event will get to go to the conference free of charge!
29/10/10: Exhibiting at Symposium of the Danish Microbiological Society, 9th November 2010
October 29, 2010 by Peter · Leave a Comment
You Do Bio will be exhibiting at the 2010 Symposium of The Danish Microbiological Society. The symposium will be held between 0900-2100 at the University of Copenhagen Faculty of Life Sciences, Thorvaldsensvej 40, 1870 Frederiksberg C. 
Visit the DMS Homepage to learn more about the meeting, registration etc.
If you are planning on attending the symposium, or just happen to work at KU-Life, I look forward to meeting you.
Of particular interest to microbiologists will be the presentation of EnBase products from BioSilta. I will have technical information about these exciting products and limited supply of free samples.
10/04/10: Blood & Biomarkers Meeting, April 20th
April 10, 2010 by Peter · Leave a Comment
You Do Bio will be exhibiting at the meeting “Blood and Biomarkers,” held at the Utzon Centre in Aalborg, Tuesday 20th April 2010.
To learn more about the meeting, click on this link: http://www.biokemi.org/meetings/44. If you are coming to the meeting, you are welcome to stop by the You Do Bio exhibit and say hello!
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.
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.
09/02/10: Save 50% with Agilent’s “The Incredible Offers”
February 9, 2010 by Peter · Leave a Comment
In a promotion that runs until May 2010, Agilent are offering 50% discounts on dozens of molecular biology products. If you purchase 1 product from the selected application areas (e.g. qPCR), you get the option to purchase up to 4 related products with a 50% discount.
You can get more information by clicking on the banner above, or follow this link: Take me to the Promotion Website
Application areas covered include:
- Stratagene qPCR Reagents,
- PCR Enzymes
- Mutagenesis-QuikChange Kits
- Cloning-Competent Cells
- Bioanalyzer Chip Kits
28/01/10: Elucidating Genetic Variations in Cancer
January 28, 2010 by Peter · Leave a Comment
This is a link to an interesting presentation by Michal-Ruth Schweiger, MD, PhD, from the Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics Berlin, Germany. The full title of the presentation is “Elucidating Genetic Variations in Cancer with the SureSelect Target Enrichment System and Next Generation Sequencing.”
Should be of interest to researchers planning to use sequencing to detect variations in cancer and perhaps working with FFPE samples.
Go to presentation
FREE eSeminar on GeneSpring GX11
January 27, 2010 by Peter · Leave a Comment
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FREE eSeminar GeneSpring GX11 – Integrative genomics and transcriptomics data analysis – The Agilent team is pleased to invite you: Friday, February 26th, 2010 from 11 to 12 a.m. CET (Paris time) Speaker: Danielle Fletcher, Applications Scientist, Bioinformatics During this eSeminar, you will:
Cannot attend? |
microRNA Spike-In Kit Launched
January 25, 2010 by Peter · Leave a Comment
For researchers interested in using microarrays to study miRNAs this is a welcome launch. Agilent’s microRNA Spike-In Kit enables the user to assess the labeling and hybridization efficiencies when using Agilent’s miRNA profiling assay and assures that the respective reactions have proceeded as expected. The microRNA Spike-In Kit is used for in-process control and contains a Labeling Spike-In to check for labeling efficiency and a Hyb Spike-In to verify hybridization efficiency. Together with Agilent’s miRNA Complete Labeling and Hyb Kit and Agilent’s microarray probe design, the microRNA Spike-In Kit enables increased data confidence and optimal microarray performance.
You can take a look at the complete range of miRNA products from Agilent at this link: http://www.opengenomics.com/Products/Application/miRNA
And the winner is…
January 20, 2010 by Peter · Leave a Comment
For those of you who turned up for the NGS symposium at LIFE on Monday – thank you. Also to announce that the winner of the video camera draw was Paula Campos from the University of Copenhagen. Congratulations Paula!
Video demonstrating CoolCell
January 17, 2010 by Peter · Leave a Comment
CoolCell, an alcohol free cell freezing container, is a novel tool for the improvement of cell cryopreservation and recovery. It provides the most precise controlled rate cooling of -1ºC per minute for freezing a large variety of cells (e.g. PBMCs, primary cells, cell lines, stem cells, tissue cells). CoolCell excels at ensuring consistent, carefree, and maintenance free controlled freezing and is the first significant breakthrough in simple, cost effective cell freezing since alcohol filled containers.
Take a look at the short video below to learn more. If you are interested in testing out a CoolCell, please Contact me.
Chicken, Porcine, Rhesus Macaque and Zebrafish Arrays
January 16, 2010 by Peter · Leave a Comment
Agilent has released updates to their gene expression microarrays for four model organisms: Chicken, Pig, Rhesus macaque and Zebrafish. To find out more information about these products, please follow this link to the Open Genomics website: http://www.opengenomics.com/Products/Application/Gene_Expression_Profiling.
If you require more information, please Contact Me
Next Generation Sequencing Meeting
January 13, 2010 by Peter · Leave a Comment
Emily Le Proust is the person who directs Agilent’s research into the SureSelect DNA sequence capture product line and has been responsible for overseeing the development of the technology. At short notice, I have arranged for her to present at a mini-symposium on next generation sequencing that I am organizing in Copenhagen on Monday 18th January. I just wanted to make sure you are aware of this opportunity and would like to invite you along. Emily knows as much about sequence capture as anyone, so this is a great chance to hear her speak and ask questions. Attendance will be free and there will be drinks and refreshments.
Please check out this PDF file to look at the agenda: AGENDA_NGS
Launch of AffinityScript 1-Step RT-PCR Kit
January 7, 2010 by Peter · Leave a Comment
I wanted to make you aware of the launch of the AffinityScript One-Step RT-PCR Kit (Cat # 600188). The AffinityScript One-Step RT-PCR Kit is a new high performance system for convenient, high-throughput RT-PCR in a one-step reaction.
Key benefits of the kit include:
- AffinityScript One-Step RT-PCR Kit is ideal for rapid, easy one-step set-up for RT-PCR. The simple format makes preparing multiple or high-throughput reactions fast, eliminating the potential for contamination.
- AffinityScript combined with Herculase II Fusion DNA polymerase, delivers superior yields with equivalent fidelity to Pfu DNA polymerase (6X higher fidelity than Taq), but shorter cycling time.
- Amplify multiple targets in one tube at the same time.
- Overcome secondary structure in difficult and GC-rich targets
- Perform the RT step at a temperature of your choosing
The AffinityScript One-Step RT-PCR Kit provides high product yields and fidelity for applications such as cloning, gene detection, and quantification. The kit also consists of AffinityScript RT and Herculase II Fusion DNA polymerase enabling multi-temperature RT (with higher activity than both SuperScript II and III at all temperatures) with a robust amplification step to generate higher yields of cDNA with amplicons ranging from <500 bp to 9.5 kb.
Learn more from the attached PDF file.
AffinitScript One-Step RT-PCR Kit Data Sheet_5990-5213EN
