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22 February 2010 | By
Disorders of the immune systems leading to chronic inflammation and allergies are increasing in modern societies. While the possible causative factors are both environmental and nutritional, prevention and even curative options may be derived from our diet. Because background levels of cytokine expression in the general population are generally low,…
12 December 2009 | By
The tremendous increase in the number of laboratories using qPCR and publications relying on qPCR data are testament to the rapid uptake of this technology. When preceded by reverse transcription (RT-qPCR) it is regarded as the reference technique for validation of previously derived data such as from microarray studies and…
9 October 2009 | By
A pivotal attraction of qPCR technology is its apparent lack of complication; an assay consisting of the simple procedure of combining oligonucleotides, PCR mastermix buffer and nucleic acid template to produce a qPCR reaction is perceived as undemanding. This practical simplicity is complemented by the absence of any requirement for…
30 July 2009 | By
The deceptive simplicity of a typical qPCR assay is an important reason for the exponential growth in the adoption of qPCR-related technologies for both research and diagnostic applications. The only requirements for obtaining ostensibly quantitative data are a mixing of primers, DNA and a mastermix, their distribution into individual tubes…
29 May 2009 | By
Real-time PCR (qPCR) data are reliable only if they result from a robust qPCR assay that has been carefully designed, validated and optimised. This process requires an extensive assay design procedure aimed at generating an optimum primer/probe/amplicon combination to allow accurate quantification of nucleic acids with minimum need for post-PCR…
20 March 2009 | By
The fluorescence-based quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR)1-3, is the most widely used method to detect and measure minute amounts of DNA in a wide range of samples extracted from numerous sources. Since all currently available thermostable polymerases are DNA-dependent, RNA must be converted ("reverse transcribed") into DNA prior to…
20 March 2009 | By
Generating knowledge and insight from complex genomic data sets is always a challenging endeavor. As data collection becomes more routine and less expensive, and the existing body of data expands, getting the most out of genomics experiments requires ever more expertise and insight. Here, we discuss our method of integrating…
7 February 2009 | By Tania Nolan, Global Manager, Sigma-Aldrich and Stephen Bustin, Professor of Molecular Science, Institute of Cell and Molecular Science, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry
The fluorescence-based quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR)1-3, has the ability to detect and measure minute amounts of DNA in a wide range of samples extracted from numerous sources. In combination with reverse transcription (RT), the use of this technology has revolutionised life sciences, agriculture and medical research4,5. In addition,…
3 December 2008 | By
The fluorescence-based quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR)1,2,3 has become firmly established as the preferred technology for the detection and quantification of nucleic acids in molecular diagnostics, life sciences, agriculture and medicine4,5.
29 September 2008 | By
The polymerase chain reaction is arguably the most significant technical discovery yet to have been made in the field of molecular biology and genetics, if not all life science. It cannot be overstated how much of an impact this technique has had, resulting in molecular biology becoming an integral part…
2 August 2008 | By
The emergence of next generation sequencing technology has brought the prospect of digital analyses closer, technology that will allow not just the quantification of nucleic acids, but will result in the fine-tuning of this information with respect to tissue- and cell-specific transcription, the identification of new transcriptional units, e.g. the…
23 November 2007 | By
Alteration of microRNA (miRNA) expression in a disease compared to a healthy state and/or correlation of miRNA expression with clinical parameters (like disease progression or therapy response), may indicate that miRNAs can serve as clinically relevant biomarkers1-3. An important first step for further functional characterisation is the information about differential…
21 September 2007 | By Stephen A. Bustin, Academic Department of Surgery, Institute of Cell and Molecular Science, Queen Mary’s School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of London
The real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) has become the enabling technology par excellence in every field of molecular research and development, including that of clinical drug development and discovery. Its ability to detect as well as quantify RNA biomarkers sensitively, specifically and speedily has made it an indispensable…
