NanoString Blog
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Common questions in molecular biology: Are DNA and RNA oligonucleotides?
The short answer to whether DNA and RNA are oligonucleotides is yes. Oligonucleotides are short (oligo-) polymers of nucleotides, the basic subunit of nucleic acids such as DNA and RNA. Whether…
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Common questions in molecular biology: What is DNA barcoding and why is it important?
DNA barcoding is used in two similar yet divergent ways in biology. While important to different areas of biology, both are modeled on the concept of the Universal Product Codes…
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Common questions in molecular biology: How many types of cell counters are there?
Although it appears to be a simple question, there are several answers to “how many types of cell counters are there?” depending on how the word “type” is defined. Defining…
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Common questions in molecular biology: What are the advantages of cell counters?
Cells, the basic unit of life, are microscopic, making their identification a challenge. Cell biologists in particular often require an accurate assessment of the specific cell types present in an experiment.…
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Common questions in molecular biology: How is DNA barcoding used in research?
The term DNA barcoding is used in two ways in research. The original use was based on the discovery of a short, standardized genetic region found in fish to have a…
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Common questions in molecular biology: What do oligonucleotides do in PCR?
Oligonucleotides are relatively short single-stranded sequences of nucleotides, the monomeric subunits of both DNA and RNA. The use of oligonucleotides (also known as oligomers or “oligos”) is invaluable in many…
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Common questions in molecular biology: What are oligonucleotides used for?
A workhorse of molecular biology, oligonucleotides are relatively short single-stranded sequences of nucleotides, the monomeric subunits of both DNA and RNA. Oligonucleotides (often called oligomers or “oligos”) are invaluable in…
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Common questions in molecular biology: Why is it called DNA barcoding?
DNA barcoding was named for its conceptual similarity to the Universal Product Codes (UPCs) used by supermarkets and other retailers to distinguish commercial products via a unique digital code. Based…
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Common questions in molecular biology: What is a cell counter used for?
Cell counters are machines, typically automated, designed to count living cells quickly and autonomously. Employed in the life sciences, cell counters quantify cells for a wide range of reasons using a variety of…
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Why Oligonucleotides Are Critical Components of DNA and RNA Expression Research
With all the advances in molecular biology over the last several decades, one of the most consistently used tools is the oligonucleotide. Oligonucleotides are relatively short (oligo) single-stranded sequences of…
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How DNA Barcoding Improves Gene Expression Analysis and Biomarker Discovery
The phrase “DNA barcoding” can be applied to several methods of using unique DNA sequences for identification purposes. Sometimes known as “molecular barcoding,” DNA barcoding describes the use of unique…
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How Cell Counters and Cell Type Profiling Can Help Analyze Gene Expression Profiles
Cell counters, also known as cell sorters, are instruments that separate and count specific cells of interest using characteristic properties of those cells. The original cell counters, known as Coulter…