Resource Type: Blog

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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.…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…