Questions tagged [methods]
The methods tag can be used for questions on experimental hardware; experimental set up; experimental procedures; surgical techniques etc.
23
questions with no upvoted or accepted answers
8
votes
1
answer
327
views
How do non-ionic polymers help precipitate proteins?
Some non-ionic polymers (e.g. chitosan and polyethylene glycol) are also commonly used as protein precipitating agents. What is the principle of protein precipitation resulting from the addition of ...
- 81
5
votes
0
answers
59
views
Methods for getting clean C. difficile spore preps without spores clumping together
I'm a microbiologist recently who recently started working on an ongoing C. difficile project for the first time. One of the things I need to do is verify the lower detection limit of my qPCR ...
- 4,787
4
votes
0
answers
42
views
How do scientists determine the nature of ions passing through a channel/carrier/pump?
The NCE (Sodium Calcium Exchanger) transports 3 Na+ inside the cell for 1 Ca2+ outside.
How did we figure this out, and other mechanisms of this sort?
If it were a protein, we could tag it with GFP. ...
- 41
4
votes
0
answers
65
views
How to anaesthetise mosquitoes during a mass-trapping field study?
Do any of you have experience in anaesthetising mosquitoes during a mass-trapping field study?
Normally, mosquito traps have a little net in which you catch the mosquitoes. The nets can, after ...
- 131
3
votes
0
answers
506
views
Is there a standard formula/calculation for sexual dimorphism?
Is there a standard, or most accepted, way to present a value for sexual dimorphism? For example, one could use
$$\frac{\text{Female value}}{\text{Male value}} -1$$
This would give negative values ...
- 16.1k
3
votes
1
answer
309
views
What is an extinction test?
In Stolerman & Olufsen (2001) I read the sentence:
After drug-appropriate responding with the training mixtures reached
85%, generalisation to ethanol was examined in extinction tests.
Here is ...
- 71
2
votes
0
answers
39
views
Nucleic acid extractions
Is it fine to leave pulverized plant tissue in CTAB buffer at -80 degrees over night? will the buffer remain effective to generate good quality nucleic acids?
2
votes
0
answers
76
views
PCR limits of detection calculate method
Is any standard method for use to gain PCR sensivity or limit of detection? my mean is not for RT-PCR or Real-Time or any other kind and just simple PCR. After making PCR product free of dNTP and ...
- 588
2
votes
0
answers
46
views
Stable isotope sample preparation: Bone Collagen
I am performing research in which I need to extract bone collagen from the foot bones of American Beaver (Castor canadensis). I have read through the literature fairly thoroughly on both the ...
- 21
1
vote
0
answers
95
views
How to fit simulated with measured data having systematic errors?
Consider a given time series of measured data, i.e. the number of persons tested positive for COVID-19. And consider a simulation - consisting of a model, possibly fed with some parameters estimated a ...
1
vote
0
answers
29
views
How to Identify Astragalus Species
I have several photos of a plant I believe to be in the genus Astragalus. I would like to determine the particular species in my area, the foot hills of San Diego County. Do I need a microscope to ...
- 111
1
vote
0
answers
18
views
Does the preservation fluid (ethanol or formaldehyde) leach heavy metals from mollusc tissue?
In a thread on researchgate, the concern was raised that long term exposure to unbuffered preservation fluids such as ethanol or formaldehyde may leach heavy metals from biological samples due to a ...
1
vote
0
answers
65
views
What kind of sieve does one use to extract meiofauna?
Suppose I have a core of sediment, and I want to extract the meiofauna from it, in order to study these organisms. According to the sources I could find, this involves using a very fine (e.g. 45 μm) ...
- 53
1
vote
0
answers
51
views
Determine planar phyllotaxis characteristics
Is there any method to fast and precise count the number of spiral and the divergence angle on a planar phyllotaxis pattern?
The example of spiral phyllotactic arrangement of emerging flowers on ...
- 155
1
vote
0
answers
70
views
Protein expression in K. lactis system
I am trying to express a protein in K. lactis Protein Expression Kit (E1000S - NEB) in the way that the protein is secreted into the medium. I know that I can get some protein but it is not active. As ...
- 11
1
vote
0
answers
39
views
Where can I get fungal extracts?
Does anyone know how I can get fungal extracts from fungal isolates? I have isolates in PDA slants and I'm gonna need to get their respective extracts to impregnate in sterile discs. I'm a novice in ...
- 169
1
vote
0
answers
52
views
Spectroscopy on plant leafs
I'm trying to do spectroscopy readings on plants where I shoot electromagnetic waves and look at their signature/profile.
I want to be able to do this at a distance, in the field and on live plants ...
- 11
1
vote
0
answers
173
views
What is/are the effect(s) of altering the Tris concentration on polyacrylamide gels?
Why do we use two different concentrations of Tris (i.e. 1.5M Tris in resolving gel and 1.0M Tris in stacking gel)? For the gel to run properly there needs to be a different pH, but that can be done ...
- 11
1
vote
0
answers
2k
views
How to calculate the LOB, LOD and LOQ of an enzyme assay
I understand how to calculate limit of blank (LOB), limit of detection (LOD), and limit of quantitation (LOQ) in the traditional way i.e., average and SD of raw analytical signal of blanks and low ...
- 39
1
vote
0
answers
65
views
Walkthrough Illumina Genotyping
I would love help outlining a basic walkthrough of the wet-lab techniques for processing blood samples from patients, all the way to loading a BeadChip, to the part just before Next Generation ...
- 257
0
votes
0
answers
40
views
cell proliferation assays for research proposal
I'm an undergrad Biology student and I'm working on a research proposal for a certain course. I need help or guide on cell proliferation assays. I have a target gene , recent papers show that this ...
- 1
0
votes
0
answers
31
views
Why don't materials and methods describe culture media in volume?
After reading several materials and methods sections of cell culture experiments, I have not seen the recipe for culture media ever described in terms of volume.
Human adipose tissue was obtained ...
- 121
0
votes
0
answers
20
views
How do I homogenise a small pellet of 10 to 50 cells within less than 50 µL?
I have a problem with declumping/ homogenising bacterial cells in small volumes (10 to 50 µL). I know that I can get all of my cells out of the tube, but they are still stuck together and won't form ...
- 1