tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-87772326415989824392026-04-06T01:43:23.792-07:00A collection of blog posts connected to my teaching on biomedical sciences and biochemistry degrees. All views and opinions expressed are my own, and not connected to my past, present or future employers.Nickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00303449397263543615noreply@blogger.comBlogger125125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8777232641598982439.post-2216732045270258382024-10-23T03:30:00.000-07:002024-10-23T03:35:31.159-07:00

New video - Recommended Reading - this video is part of my "You ask, I answer" series and is my response to a question I was asked the other week.Are you starting a Bioscience or Biomedical Sciences degree and wondering which textbooks you should buy? You’re not alone! This is one of the most common questions I get asked: “What textbooks do I really need?” In this post, I’ll give some practical

Nickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00303449397263543615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8777232641598982439.post-46208675909042182292024-09-24T09:26:00.000-07:002024-10-02T02:25:23.423-07:00

In the video What is the most significant change I've seen in the biosciences during my career?, I look at what I consider to be some of the biggest changes I have seen.This video is part of my "You Ask, I Answer" series.Over my career in bioscience, I’ve witnessed some incredible changes that have significantly changed how we do biomedical sciences and how cells work.Recently, I was

Nickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00303449397263543615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8777232641598982439.post-17398222597418687182024-09-19T03:42:00.000-07:002024-10-02T02:26:58.103-07:00

In this video, I look at Batch and Continuous Cell Cultures and discuss how they can be used in the lab:In the lab, we often need to grow bacterial, yeast, or mammalian cells, and we use specific methods to cultivate cells in a controlled environment. Two common cell growth approaches are batch cultures and continuous cultures.Batch Cultures: The Standard ApproachIf you’ve ever worked

Nickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00303449397263543615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8777232641598982439.post-85707290331774664602024-09-19T03:25:00.000-07:002024-10-02T02:28:08.360-07:00

In this video - Tagging and Labelling Proteins for Purification and Tracking - I look at why we tag proteins and the methods we use to add a tag to a protein.The Basics of Protein Tagging and Purification: A Lab GuideDuring my career, I have had to produce and purify proteins in the lab, which can be challenging.In the lab, we tag and purify proteins to understand what a protein does in the

Nickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00303449397263543615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8777232641598982439.post-17692243567297180822024-09-11T02:13:00.000-07:002024-10-02T02:28:40.691-07:00

In the video - Three Parent Babies: Mitochondrial Disease Treatment - I look at how mitochondrial disease can be treated using mitochondrial replacement therapy (MRT) and three-parent babies.The mitochondria, often called the "powerhouses" of the cell, provide the energy that keeps our bodies functioning. Interestingly, mitochondria carry their own DNA, separate from the DNA in the cell’s

Nickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00303449397263543615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8777232641598982439.post-23255268687955759352024-09-10T06:41:00.000-07:002024-10-02T04:47:54.343-07:00

On my video - Genetically Engineering Pigs to Reduce Environmental Pollution - I received a comment which included a series of important questions on genetic engineering. I was going to reply to the comment directly, but instead decided to do a video reply - Answering Your Questions on Genetic Engineering: Unintended Consequences, Science Models and Risks.The questions raised in the

Nickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00303449397263543615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8777232641598982439.post-7053015557230430402024-09-09T03:59:00.000-07:002024-10-02T04:48:44.509-07:00

This video - Unexpected Challenges in Genetic Engineering: A Case Study on GM Crops - is a true story from my research career.In 2004, I was involved in a €3 million research project that brought together labs from Europe and China. The research team included sociologists, psychologists, biochemists, botanists, and chemists, and we were looking at food safety in genetically modified (GM

Nickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00303449397263543615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8777232641598982439.post-6645504095710828542024-09-06T05:58:00.000-07:002024-10-02T04:49:22.399-07:00

In this very short video - Genetically Engineering Pigs to Reduce Environmental Pollution - I look at how genetically engineering a pig has produced an animal that is less harmful to the environment.The problem of phosphate pollution in the runoff from farms, particularly in pig farming, is a significant environmental concern. Animals' diets are often rich in grains, which contain phytic acid, a

Nickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00303449397263543615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8777232641598982439.post-86626008000225837782024-09-05T04:09:00.000-07:002024-10-02T04:49:52.068-07:00

 In this video - How Plants Are Fighting Climate Change and Pollution? - I look at how plants are being used to help fight climate change and polution.Genetically engineered plants are being explored to combat climate change and environmental pollution. Slowing Climate Change with Carbon-Capturing PlantsOne area of research focuses on using plants to slow climate change by

Nickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00303449397263543615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8777232641598982439.post-55093404452670226872024-09-04T03:53:00.000-07:002024-10-02T04:50:33.348-07:00

 In this video - How Genetically Engineered Mice Help Us Study COVID-19 - I look at how a mouse that was genetically engineered for studying one virus, helped us understand COVID-19.To develop effective treatments and vaccines for COVID-19, we needed to understand how the virus interacted with living organisms. For this, scientists typically use model organisms like mice. However,

Nickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00303449397263543615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8777232641598982439.post-50077399978536209952024-09-03T08:44:00.000-07:002024-10-02T04:56:40.711-07:00

In this video - Gene Drives: A Powerful and Controversial Genetic Technology - I look at gene drives. A genetic engineering technique that I find equally fascinating and scary.Gene drives are a revolutionary and controversial advancement in genetic engineering. The process allows scientists to introduce self-propagating changes into an organism's genome, bypassing traditional Mendelian

Nickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00303449397263543615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8777232641598982439.post-20364476482378212882024-09-02T04:08:00.000-07:002024-10-02T04:57:35.439-07:00

In the video - CRISPR Case Studies: Ethical Dilemmas and Revolutionary Applications - I look at the illegal use of CRISPR on babies and its legal use to treat some conditions.CRISPR has emerged as a powerful genetic engineering tool. However, it does come with the ethical implications.CRISPRCRISPR (Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats) is a gene-editing tool that allows

Nickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00303449397263543615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8777232641598982439.post-3736371597246547292024-08-30T09:18:00.000-07:002024-10-02T04:58:23.060-07:00

In this video - Exploring Genetic Engineering: Protecting Crops and Enhancing Food - I look at three examples of how genetic engineering has been used to protect crops from insects and enhance the nutritional value of food.1. BT Cotton: A Solution with Unintended ConsequencesBT cotton is a prime example of how genetic engineering can provide a targeted solution to agricultural problems. This

Nickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00303449397263543615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8777232641598982439.post-15947935478044737832024-08-30T02:03:00.000-07:002024-10-02T04:58:55.017-07:00

I like bananas — there, I have said it. They are one of my go-to fruits. But did you know they are in danger of being wiped out and no longer available?In this video - How CRISPR Could Save Bananas from Extinction | The Cavendish Crisis Explained -  I look at why bananas are in trouble and how genetic engineering may come to the rescue.About 99% of bananas we eat come from a single strain

Nickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00303449397263543615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8777232641598982439.post-3964024862056051002024-08-28T04:01:00.000-07:002024-10-02T04:59:45.836-07:00

I have posted a video - Introduction to Genetic Engineering: Ethics, Science, and Innovation.Genetic engineering often evokes strong emotions and heated debates. When people hear the term, they might immediately think of genetically modified organisms (GMOs), "Frankenstein foods," or the ethical dilemmas surrounding altering life at its most fundamental level. But what exactly is genetic

Nickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00303449397263543615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8777232641598982439.post-28389876511649544612024-08-27T02:46:00.000-07:002024-10-02T05:00:25.154-07:00

In this video - Site-Directed Mutagenesis Explained | Understanding the Basics - I look at how you can mutate DNA in the lab.Blog Bonus: Free information sheet summarising the video and defining the key terms - download.Site-directed mutagenesis is a powerful technique in molecular biology that can introduce specific mutations into a DNA sequence. The method has been instrumental in

Nickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00303449397263543615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8777232641598982439.post-86065027210261454392024-08-23T02:47:00.000-07:002024-10-02T05:01:05.896-07:00

In the video DNA Sequencing: Sanger Method and Beyond Explained, I explain the Sanger method and look at some of the new approaches and methods that can speed up the DNA sequencing process.Blog Bonus: Free information sheet summarising the video and defining the key terms - download.DNA sequencing allows scientists to decode the genetic information that dictates everything from the colour of

Nickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00303449397263543615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8777232641598982439.post-82159973708926294182024-08-21T02:25:00.000-07:002024-10-02T05:01:44.114-07:00

 I have posted a video on the key differences between genomic DNA (gDNA) and complementary DNA (cDNA) libraries - DNA Libraries: Genomic vs. cDNA - Key Differences and Applications.Blog Bonus: Free information sheet summarising the video and defining the key terms - download.DNA libraries are essential tools for researchers to study and manipulate genetic material. If you're working in

Nickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00303449397263543615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8777232641598982439.post-90186395446809553402024-08-19T02:41:00.000-07:002024-09-29T01:56:27.015-07:00

I have posted a video on PCR primer design - PCR Primer Design: Tips for Accurate DNA Amplification. Blog Bonus: Free information sheet summarising the video and defining the key terms - download.Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) is an important lab technique that allows scientists to amplify specific DNA sequences. However, the success of a PCR largely depends on correctly designing the PCR

Nickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00303449397263543615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8777232641598982439.post-6525763841646055272024-08-15T02:09:00.000-07:002024-10-02T05:02:01.157-07:00

In this video - Bacterial Transformation: Natural vs. Artificial Methods Explained - I look at how bacteria can take up DNA from the environment and how we can get bacteria to take up DNA in the lab. Blog Bonus: Free information sheet summarising the video and defining the key terms - download. Bacterial transformation is where bacteria take up external DNA, which can lead to genetic changes

Nickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00303449397263543615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8777232641598982439.post-487381075008083372024-08-14T04:06:00.000-07:002024-10-02T05:02:59.348-07:00

In this video - Understanding Transduction: How Bacteriophages Transfer DNA Between Bacteria - I look at the process of DNA exchange, transdcution, between bacteria by bacteriophages. Blog Bonus: Free information sheet summarising the video and defining the key terms - download.Transduction is driven by bacteriophages, which are viruses that specifically target and infect bacterial cells.

Nickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00303449397263543615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8777232641598982439.post-87926103232243431072024-08-13T01:51:00.000-07:002024-09-29T01:58:20.592-07:00

Gene mapping in bacteria is a process that has helped scientists understand the order and location of genes on a bacterial chromosome. In this post, I will look at a method of gene mapping using bacterial conjugation, specifically focusing on a technique known as interrupted mating. Although this technique is historical and has been largely replaced by genome sequencing, it remains an

Nickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00303449397263543615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8777232641598982439.post-24372731323604746702024-08-06T09:54:00.000-07:002024-09-29T01:58:44.765-07:00

In this video, I look at the three methods bacteria use to share genetic information: Conjugation, Transduction, and Transformation. Blog Bonus: Free information sheet summarising the video and defining the key terms - download. Bacteria typically increase their numbers through a process akin to cloning; that is, they make exact copies of themselves. While this method is efficient, it

Nickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00303449397263543615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8777232641598982439.post-45095860344907867292024-07-31T02:23:00.000-07:002024-09-29T01:59:04.950-07:00

In this video, I explain some of the key terms in Mendelian genetics: dominant recessive codominance incomplete (partial) dominance   Blog Bonus: Free information sheet summarising the video and defining the key terms - download.   Introduction to Mendelian Genetics Mendelian genetics is named after Gregor Mendel, who studied inheritance patterns in pea plants and

Nickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00303449397263543615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8777232641598982439.post-48595791867600402672024-07-30T03:34:00.000-07:002024-09-29T06:32:14.473-07:00

This video is in response to a question I have received on YouTube:“Thanks it is very helpful but can you present how to calculate slope and intercept in this curve”The question often gets asked about two of my other videos:How to calculate the size of a DNA band on a gel?How to Determine Protein Size on an SDS-PAGE Gel | Step-by-Step TutorialIn the How to Calculate the Gradient (m

Nickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00303449397263543615noreply@blogger.com0