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Top News from the Life Sciences Community this Month

SelectScience
31 Oct 2014
Sarah Thomas
Associate Editor

Editorial article

Read a roundup of the latest advances in Life Sciences technology and applications in this month’s top news stories:

Nobel Prize for Inventor of Super-Resolution Microscopy, Stefan Hell
Leica Microsystems honors Nobel Prize winner, Stefan W. Hell, for the principle that enables STED (STimulated Emission Depletion) microscopy. In collaboration with Leica Microsystems, this principle was translated into the first commercially available STED microscope, whose latest generation is now the Leica TCS SP8 STED 3X.

Carl Zeiss Research Award Winners and Partners Receive Nobel Prize
The Nobel Prize was recently awarded for medicine, physics and chemistry. Customers and partners of ZEISS are among the winners, including former Carl Zeiss Research Award winners Shuji Nakuamura and Stefan Hell, and Eric Betzig whose research led to the development of the ELYRA P.1 and PS.1 super-resolution systems.

PerkinElmer Launches Mantra™ Quantitative Pathology Imaging System for Cancer Immunology Research
PerkinElmer has announced the launch of its Mantra™ Quantitative Pathology Workstation with inForm® Image Analysis Software for cancer immunology and immunotherapy research.

Pluripotent Stem Cell Differentiation for Cancer Research
Learn how the Thermo Scientific™ Nunclon™ Sphera surface is designed to integrate into a researcher’s existing cell culture research workflow and facilitate an array of cancer and stem cell research tools, from routine passage of cells to high-throughput imaging analysis.

Novel FV-OSR Software from Olympus Provides Innovative Solution for Confocal Super Resolution Microscopy
Thanks to a novel software upgrade from Olympus, an optical resolution of up to 120 nm is now achieved in cell and tissue imaging.

Bio-Rad Introduces Wet-Lab Validated Real-Time PCR Assays for Rat Genome
Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. has announced the launch of new PrimePCR™ Rat Genome Assays for quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR).

QIAGEN Demonstrates Expanded Bioinformatics Workflows at ASHG
QIAGEN announced a number of new capabilities of its Ingenuity® Variant Analysis™ and CLC Cancer Research Workbench solutions that accelerate workflows that allow researchers to move from sample to insight with next-generation sequencing.

How Circulating Tumor Cells Are Being Used in Cancer Research
Circulating tumor cells have a key advantage of being enriched above the background cell levels, enabling them to be analyzed using molecular based methods. Learn how circulating tumor cells have provided a genomic snapshot of breast cancer.

New Synergy™ HTX Offers Convenient, Flexible and Automated Microplate-Based Detection
BioTek has launched the Synergy™ HTX Multi-Mode Microplate Reader to incorporate practical functionality, user-friendly software, and affordable modularity.

LGC’s New Search Tool Gives Online Access to 110,000 SNP Genotyping Assays
LGC’s new Assay Search Tool allows you to search for new wet-lab validated KASP™ Genotyping Assays, view pricing and order online, without a sequence submission.

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Cell / Tissue CultureCell culture or tissue culture is used to study the biology of cells or tissues and to isolate cellular products in an environment which can be manipulated and well defined. Accurately control your culture environment with bioreactors or culture incubators, bind your cells to a surface or together with an extracellular matrix. Distinguish cell types with differential media or proliferate cells with certain characteristics using selective media. Enrich your media with supplements such as growth factors, sera and vitamins. Find the best cell and tissue culture products, kits and equipment in our peer-reviewed product directory: compare products, check customer reviews and receive pricing direct from manufacturers.Genome AnalysisGenomics, the study of genomes, includes functional genomics, evolutionary genomics and comparative genomics. There are many genomic technologies such as DNA sequencing of whole genomes, computational biology and bioinformatics. DNA and nucleic acids must be isolated and concentrated from cells for analysis with kits, automated analyzers and software. Other useful technologies for studying genomics include PCR, microarrays and electrophoresis.MicroplatesMicroplates are multi-well plates used to increase the throughput of biological investigations. The number of wells microplates contain can range from 6 to 3243 wells, with the 96-well format being the most commonly used. Microplates can come tailored for a range of applications including cell culture, PCR, filtration, storage, non-binding surface, protein crystallization, as well as pre-coated, deep well and normal Standard microplates. Additionally, options for microplate colors include clear , black, white or black with clear bottom and white with clear bottom for absorbance microplate reader applications. Find the best microplates for your lab in our peer-reviewed product directory: compare products, check customer reviews and receive pricing direct from manufacturers.Microplate Readers / DetectorsMicroplate readers are used to automate the detection and analysis of labeled or label-free components in microplates during assays or live-cell monitoring. Microplate readers are generally distinguished by their mode of detection. Types include absorbance, luminescence, fluorescence intensity, fluorescence polarization, TRF / FRET and multimode microplate readers. Microplate readers deliver a high throughput of samples by reading multiple wells simultaneously, with the 96-well format the most commonly used. As a result, microplate readers are often used in the drug discovery, bioassays, research and pharmaceutical industries for screening applications. Microplate loading can also be automated, with robotic microplate stackers to increase throughput. Find the best microplate readers in our peer-reviewed product directory: compare products, check customer reviews and receive pricing direct from manufacturers.SNPs TechnologySingle nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) are individual base variations in a DNA sequence. SNPs are used in research to study predispositions to disease and drug discovery. Products for studying single nucleotide polymorphisms include SNP arrays and detection systems to detect polymorphisms, SNP typing systems for genotyping DNA, and PCR to amplify specific SNPs.Cell-Based AssaysCell-based assays are used to monitor the presence, quantity and activities of a desired cellular analyte including drug molecules or biomarkers. This can reveal information on cell health (apoptosis, cytotoxicity, viability and proliferation assays), cell metabolism, cell migration and cell signaling mechanisms. Find the best cell-based assay products, kits and equipment with our peer reviewed product directory: compare products, check customer reviews and receiving pricing direct from manufacturers.DNA SequencingDNA sequencing, such as sanger sequencing, is a biological technique that determines the precise order of nucleotide bases in a fragment or template of DNA. DNA sequencers and genetic analyzers are based on capillary electrophoresis, where labeled DNA fragments are electrophoretically separated by size as they migrate through a polymer. Find the best DNA sequencing products, including DNA sequencing kits, genomic libraries and genetic identity kits in our peer-reviewed product directory: compare products, check customer reviews and receive pricing direct from manufacturers.Gene Expression and Molecular CloningMolecular cloning is a set of techniques that utilizes vectors to transfer recombinant DNA into host cells and is an essential tool for investigating the expression of genes and proteins in bacterial or mammalian cells. A variety of vectors optimized for gene cloning and expression in a range of host organisms are available, alongside competent cells for genetic replication. Here, you can explore a range of molecular tools, high-quality genomic and cDNA libraries, premade clones, transformation and transfection reagents and mutagenesis or gene expression detection assays and expression arrays. Find the best gene expression and molecular cloning products in our peer-reviewed product directory: compare products, check customer reviews and receive pricing direct from manufacturers.BiomarkersBiomarkers are biological markers which can be measured and evaluated to indicate a biological state. The use of biomarkers in research and diagnosis can indicate a normal or disease state or drug response of cells / tissues. Biomarkers include genetic markers, cell surface markers such as antigens, antibodies or receptors and secreted molecules such as cytokines. An assay system is required for identification of biomarkers. :Light MicroscopyLight microscopes or optical microscopes are used to visualize microscale objects under magnification, including cells, clinical specimens and materials. Lab equipment for light microscopy includes confocal microscopes, fluorescence microscopes, zoom and stereo microscopes. Microscope slides and imaging reagents are available for visualizing samples, as well as various microscope stages and incubators for large or temperature-sensitive samples. Find the best light microscopes in our peer-reviewed product directory: compare products, check customer reviews and receive pricing direct from manufacturers.Chem / BioinformaticsCheminformatics and bioinformatics are computational techniques used in chemistry and biology, respectively, for data acquisition, processing and storage. Cheminformatics focuses on compound information, whereas bioinformatics is mainly applied to analysis and modeling of genomics, genetic and sequencing information. Hardware and software is available for data acquisition, analysis, management and storage.Cancer ResearchAlthough cancer is often referred to as a single condition, it actually consists of more than 100 different diseases. Microscopy, mass spectrometry, high throughput sequencing and flow cytometry are some of the most common techniques employed in cancer research labs.Super Resolution MicroscopyNobel PrizeSNP Genotyping

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