NanoString Blog

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CosMx SMI Spatial Transcriptomics

Common questions in molecular biology: What are the most common biomarkers?

If you stopped someone on the street and asked them to give you an example of a common biomarker, you will more than likely be met with silence. However, if…

Geoffrey Hummelke / June 12, 2023

CosMx SMI

Common questions in molecular biology: What is an example of a biomarker?

It’s time for your yearly wellness visit with your doctor. It’s the same thing every year. They check your weight, blood pressure, oxygen saturation and pulse. Perhaps you have to…

Geoffrey Hummelke / June 9, 2023

CosMx SMI Multiomics Spatial Analysis

Unveiling the Inner Lives of Cells: A Spatial Look at Cell-Cell Interaction

Cells are the building blocks of all living things, from single-celled organisms such as bacteria to multi-celled organisms like whales. At the most basic level, though, all cells function in…

Geoffrey Hummelke / June 8, 2023
Green-outlined cells on a dark background, with pink/purple splotches in each cell

CosMx SMI Spatial Transcriptomics

A Spatial Twist on Biomarkers: Using Spatial Transcriptomics for Biomarker Discovery

Anyone who studies biology knows that living systems are highly complex, sophisticated entities, often containing redundant processes. Sorting out the mechanisms at play in any biological system is therefore aided…

Geoffrey Hummelke / June 6, 2023

Spatial Biology

Situating Single Cell RNA-seq in the Context of Multiomics

Cells, the building blocks of all life, are built from biological molecules such as proteins and RNA. Biological molecules perform all the functions of living cells, from DNA replication to…

Geoffrey Hummelke / June 2, 2023

CosMx SMI GeoMx DSP Spatial Biology

Single-Cell Spatial Surpasses Single-Cell Sequencing

Modern biology research is deeply interested in discovering the fundamental mechanics that operate within an organism of interest. Since the fundamental unit of all living organisms is the cell, it…

Geoffrey Hummelke / May 11, 2023

Spatial Biology

Morphology Markers 101: Enabling Spatial Multiomics

Remarkable advances in spatial multiomics have been made in the last several years, with companies like NanoString introducing automated instruments capable of imaging, quantifying, and localizing RNA and protein expression…

Geoffrey Hummelke / May 11, 2023

Oncology

What is Comparative Oncology and Why Has it Gone to the Dogs?

Deciding which model system to use to answer biological questions is a critical choice in research. Many human diseases occur naturally or can be reproduced in animals. Depending on the…

Alicia Lane / May 2, 2023

Digital Spatial Profiling GeoMx DSP

GeoMx DSP: What’s in an ROI?

In the field of medical imaging, the region of interest (commonly abbreviated as ROI) is an area within an image that is selected for a particular purpose, including defining boundaries…

Nirupama Deshpande / March 21, 2023
string animation

nCounter

Common questions in molecular biology: What is a cell counter called?

There are several types of cell counters that go by different names, usually named after their uses or type of cell counting method. Hemocytometers The original cell counters are known…

NanoString / March 11, 2023

nCounter

Common questions in molecular biology: What are the advantages of DNA barcoding?

DNA barcoding is a method of identification based on DNA sequences made feasible by available genomic sequence data. Initially developed as a tool for rapid species identification (Hebert), DNA barcodes consist…

NanoString / March 11, 2023

nCounter

Common questions in molecular biology: What is an example of an oligonucleotide?

Oligonucleotides, short polymers of the nucleotide building blocks of nucleic acids such as DNA or RNA, come in many forms. In nature, oligonucleotides exist mainly as small non-coding RNAs such as…

NanoString / March 10, 2023