Mentors at Your Benchside

#65 — Delegation is not just for managers! No matter where you are in your research career, there is an opportunity to delegate. In this episode, we discuss how you can simplify your lab life by delegating, who you can delegate to, and how to do it effectively and without offending anyone! Read the full article to review everything covered in this episode. [1] If you want a deeper dive into how an...

#64 — Like many experiments, doing a Western blot typically means comparing half a dozen online protocols, failing completely, triple-checking the recipes of your more suspicious buffers, then remaking them and starting again anyway. To ease the pain, this episode gives you a reliable ECL reagent recipe so you can prepare your own fresh (and private) stash anytime you need. We also explain what al...

#63 — Are you fed up with Western blots that look like your pen leaked in your pocket? We all are. That's why we've put together our three favorite tips for better Western blot transfers. Visit the full article for a handy figure illustrating the elements of the transfer stack. [1]   You can also learn more about the different approaches to blotting. [2] Plus, we've got an easy ECL reagent recipe...

#62 — Do you want to use a cell line but are unsure where to start? Or perhaps you’re just curious about the most commonly used cell lines. Listen to our top 5 most commonly used cell lines to get a feel for the cells that many researchers turn to. Read the original article, [1] brush up on the harrowing origins of the HeLa cell line, [2] and get advice on how to pick the perfect cell line for you...

#61 — Fed up with fighting to put on another pair of gloves with sticky hands? Faced the embarrassment of giving a sweaty handshake? You need to listen to our top tips for handling sweaty glove hands in the lab. Visit the full article to leave your comments on handling sweaty glove hands, [1] and check out our guide to choosing the right glove. [2] Resources: 1. Get a Grip: Dealing with Sweaty Glo...

#60 — There's nothing quite as frustrating as imaging a western blot only to find your bands are a wonky mess, your blot is covered in bubbles, or your bands are missing entirely. We've got a solution to help: Ponceau S. This stain gives a midpoint step that can help narrow down the cause of your problems. Listen to this episode of Mentors At Your Benchside to discover a step-by-step guide for per...

#59 — Have you heard of plasmid incompatibility? Should you be worried about it? Listen to this episode of Mentors At Your Benchside to discover exactly what plasmid incompatibility is, how it can affect your research and what you can do to overcome it. Read the full article for helpful figures, [1] read the review with a list of incompatibility groupings, [2] check out the detailed review by Novi...

#58 — One of the most common goals in biology is to prove that two proteins colocalize. Usually, colocalization happens as part of a crucial disease pathway or poorly understood yet fundamental physiological process. In this episode, we discuss two methods to quantify colocalization: Pearson’s correlation coefficient and Mander’s colocalization coefficient. Listen and learn their use cases and lim...

#57 — Some microbes survive at 37°C, and some survive at 90°C. So why do their respective enzymes have optimum temperatures? Listen to this episode and learn about the delicate balance between reaction rate and enzyme stability that makes enzymes the perfect tool for their job.  Check out the corresponding online article for a simple picture of why enzymes have optimum temperatures. [1] While you'...

#56 — Do you add serum, such as fetal bovine serum, to your cell culture medium? This ingredient may be critical for cell growth and proliferation, but it could negatively impact your results and reproducibility. Listen as we discuss the pros and cons of using serum and how to remove serum from your cultures and boost your reproducibility. Read the full article on removing serum, [1] discover the...

#55 — Do you know how to keep track of cell passages using passage numbers? Is there a maximum passage number you should grow cells? And is there a better way to keep tabs on how long your cells have been growing in culture? Listen to this episode to get answers to these questions and more. You'll discover the theory behind passage numbers and learn there's a big problem with counting passages. Re...

#54 — Do some people's terrible PPE habits bug you? Are you guilty of not wearing your PPE in the lab? Listen to our top 10 PPE sins. Sins that we've all definitely committed at some point, and see if your pet peeve made it on. Check out the original article to discover the differences between chemistry- and Howie-type lab coats. [1] And while you're at it, why not learn how to clean up chemical s...

#53 — Anywhere but the face! On the list of places you wouldn't want to spill a chemical, I bet your face ranks pretty high. Wise scientists know their face protection. Are you aware of the different types of eye and face protection available? In the latest episode of Mentors At Your Benchside, we discuss PPE you can use to keep your eyes and face safe and when to wear it. Check out the original a...

#52 — Acids are ubiquitous in the lab. We use them for many tasks, such as pH-ing solutions, cleaning glassware, calibrating instruments, and dissolving analytes. But they are extremely dangerous chemicals. It's imperative, therefore, that we handle strong acids safely. That is, prepare, use, use and dispose of them with minimal risk. So, in this episode, we'll discuss how to handle common strong...

#51 — A neglected pH meter means less reliable experiments, poor reproducibility, and time wasted. Yet, despite being critical to all our experiments, they are frequently neglected, abused, and left to dry out. In this episode, we'll learn the basic facts about how a pH meter works. Then, using this knowledge, we'll explain how to look after your pH meter and how to fix it the next time it's misha...

#50 — While we all know the dangers of too much UV light from the sun and the need to wear sunscreen, how much thought do we give to the dangers of UV light in the lab? It's not just ourselves that we need to protect, as UV light can also damage our precious samples. Listen to this episode to learn how UV light damages DNA, the sources of UV light in the lab, and precautions to take to protect you...

#49 — It's not easy being rich. If your DNA is GC-rich and you're struggling to amplify it, you aren't alone. Listen to this Mentors At Your Benchside episode to discover why GC-rich regions are problematic to PCR and simple ways to help with amplification. Don't forget to visit the full article. [1] For more help and advice on PCR, read our Beginner's Guide to PCR [2] to ensure you have a solid g...

#48 — One of the critical skills required for any scientist is the ability to consistently design and carry out successful experiments. It’s also vital that any experiments can be replicated. There are, of course, many variables that can cause an experiment to fail, but there are some basic steps that, if taken routinely, can increase your chances of success. In this episode, we've rounded up our...

#47 — Buffers are everywhere in a lab. But do you know why we use them? Listen to this episode of Mentors At Your Benchside as we explain what buffers are, how they work, and why understanding this could improve your research. You'll also get top tips on choosing and using buffers in the lab. Check out the original article on how buffers work for helpful figures and to get a non-exhaustive list of...

#46 — If you are performing quantitative PCR (qPCR), you must understand what a Ct value is. In this episode of Mentors at Your Benchside, we'll take you through its critical role in qPCR, its various names, how to calculate it and what it means when it all seems to go a bit wrong. Visit the original article for a helpful figure that explains Ct values. [1] Plus, visit our related articles to disc...

#45 — Taq polymerase is a fantastic all-rounder for standard PCRs, but what do you do if you need something a bit more specialist? In this episode of Mentors At Your Benchside, we share the varying world of DNA polymerases. Whether you are looking for a powerful proofreader or need help amplifying long or GC-rich sequences, we know a polymerase that can help. Visit the original article on DNA poly...

#44 — So you might be wondering why you bothered with all those years of failed experiments, committees, overbearing supervisors, thesis writing, and thesis defending. Well, no matter where life takes you, you can now call yourself "Dr" whenever you want. And that can be more useful than you might think. Listen to this episode of Mentors At Your Benchside to discover 10 ways to use your Dr title,...

#43 — DNA extraction kits. A magic black (or red or blue) box that helps you isolate DNA without you even thinking. That's great—until things go wrong. Then you have to know what's happening. So in this episode of Mentors At Your Benchside, we're going to explain how DNA extraction kits work in the lab. Check out the original article to read how DNA extraction kits work. [1] Why not learn how to t...

#42 — There are a lot of humorless scientists out there. But thankfully, some do their bit to make science a bit more fun by adding a splash of imagination to the names of their discoveries. That, or they think about these things too much. Don't believe me? Need a laugh? Listen to us countdown fourteen cheeky fruit fly gene names! Visit the website to read the full article [1] and learn how to sex...

#41 — Keeping your lab balance clean and calibrated will make your bench work a lot easier. In this episode we give you useful tips to maintain your balance, literally! Visit our website to read the full article. [1] Read more about accuracy and precision [2] and the types of statistical error [3] you can avoid by calibrating your lab balance. For more information, see this guide on cleaning and m...