Best DNA Of Success Tips Podcasts (2025)

1
Fast PCR fundamentals – from instruments to enzymes 16:40

9d ago16:40

16:40

In this Mol Bio Minutes episode, Laurynas Alijošius breaks down how to run fast PCR to save time and increase lab efficiency. He explains how to choose the right thermal cycler with fast ramp speeds, select low-volume and thin-walled PCR plastics, and use engineered DNA polymerases that offer rapid elongation and hot-start capability. Laurynas also…

1
The hidden language of RNA – how epigenetics is shaping medicine 31:51

23d ago31:51

31:51

This episode teaches that innovation is born at the intersection of curiosity and persistence. Dr. Gudrun Stengel, co-founder and CEO of Alida Biosciences, reveals how her startup is transforming the landscape of RNA research through a novel technology called proximity barcoding. Dr. Stengel’s story exemplifies the power of entrepreneurial spirit i…

1
Sustainability made simple – greener choices in molecular biology 10:21

1M ago10:21

10:21

Sustainability in the lab isn't just a trend—it's a responsibility. In this quick but powerful Mol Bio Minutes episode, sustainability expert Sune Lund Sporring shares actionable tips to reduce energy use, manage lab waste, and transition to greener materials like Thermo Fisher’s Sustain Series bio-based plastics. Discover the difference between bi…

1
From bats to cancer – the power of gene regulation 33:53

2M ago33:53

33:53

Join us for an insightful conversation with Dr. Nadav Ahituv, a leader in human genetics and gene regulation at UCSF. He shares his personal journey from scoliosis patient to genetic researcher, exploring the mysteries of non-coding DNA, massively parallel reporter assays, and CRISPR-based therapeutic innovations. We dive into his lab’s diverse pro…

1
Hepatocyte Counting Methods: From Manual Counts to Fast, Accurate Automation 17:29

2M ago17:29

17:29

#115 — Hepatocytes are liver cells that are essential for its function. They are also essential for certain branches of drug testing and diagnostics. However, they have irregular shapes, multiple nuclei, and can clump, which makes them difficult to process and count accurately. In this episode, we explain how to prepare the best hepatocyte samples …

1
No more smears – expert tips for electrophoresis success 9:05

2M ago9:05

9:05

With prior Mol Bio Minutes episodes covering DNA form migration and staining considerations for nucleic acid gel electrophoresis, we tie it all together with this great set of overall tips, tricks and resources for the topic. Anyone that’s ever run a gel has undoubtedly produced gels with smeared, faint or poorly separated bands. What causes these …

1
Single Cell Sequencing: Tips to Optimize Nuclei Extraction and Counting 16:58

3M ago16:58

16:58

#114 — High-quality nuclei extraction is pivotal for many genetic and epigenetic studies, including single cell RNA-seq to describe transcriptomic profiles and gene expression dynamics and ATAC-seq to determine chromatin accessibility. But nuclei samples are extremely delicate and can be challenging to prepare and count. In this episode, we provide…

1
Biologically removing the forever from “forever chemicals” 32:00

3M ago32:00

32:00

It could be argued that biology has always boiled down to chemistry, and that chemistry has always boiled down to physics. However, not many would deny that the fields of biology and chemistry are overlapping more than ever, with both leveraging computing methods, also more than ever. This conversation with Dr. Ramesh Jha, Technical Staff Member at…

1
A clear picture – staining tips for gel electrophoresis 10:17

3M ago10:17

10:17

You can run the perfect agarose gel to separate your nucleic acid fragments but if you don’t stain and image the gel properly, it’s all for not. In this second installment of Mol Bio Minutes we take a look at the staining considerations for nucleic acid gel electrophoresis with Paulius Palaima, Product Manager at Thermo Fisher Scientific. He covers…

1
With knowledge comes great responsibility 35:37

4M ago35:37

35:37

Topics and terms such as biosafety, biosecurity, containment, and contamination are things most of us have heard of and think about at some level, but with the pace of molecular biology moving faster than ever, these are topics with implications that are reaching farther than ever. We’re joined by Dr. Ryan Burnette and Dr. Lauren Richardson from Me…

1
DNA on the move – the influence of form on gel migration 9:19

4M ago9:19

9:19

Agarose gel electrophoresis is a staple method in almost all biology and biochemistry lab where separation and analysis of nucleic acids is needed. In this Mol Bio Minutes mini episode Augustė Užuotaitė, Scientist III at Thermo Fisher Scientific, covers the basics of electrophoresis with a spotlight on how different forms of DNA migrate differently…

1
The genetics and neuroendocrinology of obesity 31:37

5M ago31:37

31:37

Obesity is one of the most pressing health challenges of our time, with genetic and molecular factors playing a crucial role in how our bodies regulate weight. In this season opener, we explore the science behind obesity, focusing on how hormones, genetics, and brain circuits influence feeding behavior and body weight. Join us for a fascinating dis…

1
Season 3 spoilers – innovation, inspiration, and insight 4:36

6M ago4:36

4:36

The start of Season 3 is just around the corner, slated to start in January 2025. What’s the new season hold in store you might ask? Steve assures us he’ll be back hosting Season 3 and teases at topics that are coming. These include biosecurity, bioengineering, polymer degradation, genetics of obesity, CROs and how they utilize mol bio, platelet bi…

1
It’s all in your approach – biosynthesis of natural products 33:18

7M ago33:18

33:18

We’re joined in this episode by Dr. Sarah Barry, Reader in Chemical Biology at King’s College London. Sarah started with an interest in biochemistry, went into organic chemistry because it was more concrete, and now applies her chemist’s approach to understanding and manipulating biosynthesis of natural products for important areas of research, inc…

1
Personal Advice on How to Respond to Criticism of Your Grant Proposal Reviews 13:15

8M ago13:15

13:15

#113 — Learning how to respond to criticism is an unavoidable aspect of grant applications. Follow all instructions from funding agencies to avoid immediate rejection. This episode of Mentors At Your Benchside gives you some simple strategies to ensure you respond to criticism in a constructive and proportionate way. For example, identifying review…

1
The value of community – your microbiome 31:58

8M ago31:58

31:58

The history of fermented foods like beer, bread, and other foods can be traced back thousands of years to ancient civilizations in China and Egypt. This ancient technology was originally used to preserve foods when refrigeration was not an option. While less common in modern industrialized civilizations, we’re now realizing that fermented foods pla…

1
Therapeutic nucleic acids – a CDMO’s view on mRNA 32:04

9M ago32:04

32:04

While some of us knew a good bit about mRNA prior to 2020, we all got a crash course on mRNA technology and its prophylactic and therapeutic potential as a result of the COVID pandemic and subsequent SARS CoV-2 vaccine development. In fact, most of us have now received at least one mRNA vaccine at this point. Our guest for this episode, Dr. Christi…

1
Isoelectric Focusing: A Simple Way to Enhance Your Protein Separation 9:20

10M ago9:20

9:20

#112 — Isoelectric focusing (IEF) is a powerful technique distinct from the more familiar SDS-PAGE, [1,2] tailored for separating proteins or peptides based on their isoelectric points (pI). [3] This method capitalizes on the migration of charged molecules through a stable pH gradient until they reach a zone where their net charge is zero, halting …

1
A molecular thermometer for the future 35:29

10M ago35:29

35:29

There are all sorts of molecular tests to tell if you’re infected with something specific, but what do you use when you’re not sure what you might have? You might use a thermometer as a first step, but wouldn’t it be nice if that thermometer was a bit more high tech? In this episode we meet Dr. Nick Meyerson, CEO and co-founder of Darwin Bioscience…

1
Top 10 Uses of Microbes in Biotechnology 9:09

10M ago9:09

9:09

#111 — In this episode, we dive deep into the fascinating world of microbes and their revolutionary applications in biotechnology. From environmental solutions to breakthroughs in health and medicine, microbes hold the key to some of the most advanced scientific developments. Discover how these microscopic organisms are transforming industries and …

1
Let’s Talk About Stats: Methods for Comparing Two Sets of Data 4:32

11M ago4:32

4:32

#110 — Comparing two sets of data is a fundamental process in statistical analysis, crucial for drawing meaningful conclusions across various fields. Whether it's for determining the success of an intervention, understanding market trends, or validating scientific research, the need for comparison arises. This episode delves into the essence of dat…

1
Directed evolution – A PETase project 32:58

11M ago32:58

32:58

Plastics are a modern miracle of science that have helped deliver both convenience and life-saving solutions. However, we must now grapple with the challenge of immense amounts of plastics in our waste streams and environment. How do we best deconstruct plastics to reusable or more bio-friendly molecules? This is the exact challenge being addressed…

1
Personal Advice on Building Your Professional Network. It Takes a Village 10:45

11M ago10:45

10:45

#109 — How do you build a scientific network that gives you the best chance of getting your research funded? How can you identify who to include in your network, and how should you contact them? This episode explains how to build a scientific network that works for you. We discuss the answers to these questions and provide some examples of collabor…

1
4 Fixatives for Histology and Cytometry: Perfect Your Preservation 6:55

12M ago6:55

6:55

#108 — What should you use to fix your cells? Alcohols or aldehydes? Gluteraldehyde or formaldehyde? And how long will your cells stay fixed? This episode explains the four main fixatives for histology and cytometry and when to use them. It also provides some practical tips to ensure your fixation works and explains the benefits of combining fixati…

1
Scientific marketing in the century of the biotech revolution 32:37

12M ago32:37

32:37

Most scientists start their education and careers with a vision of working in the lab to discover great things and drive innovation. However, we don’t all end up loving the actual lab work portion of science. What non-lab career options exist to utilize molecular biology knowledge and skills? Well, according to our guest, Jason Amsbaugh, Founder an…

1
Microscope Disinfection: A Quick Guide 6:30

12M ago6:30

6:30

#107 — Need to give your microscope a quick clean to get rid of some grime but unsure what cleaning agent to use? Have you had a nasty sample on there recently and need to disinfect it for the next user? This episode gives you a quick guide to disinfecting your microscopes, including what solvents are safe to use and the parts you should tackle fir…

1
Tissue Processing For Histology: What Exactly Happens? 6:11

1y ago6:11

6:11

#106 — Transforming a tissue sample into a slide ready for microscopic exploration involves a series of critical steps. Among these, tissue processing is a fundamental phase bridging tissue fixation and the embedding/sectioning of paraffin blocks. In this episode, discover what exactly happens in this vital in-between stage, and learn about the six…

1
Cheers to molecular Biology 34:47

1y ago34:47

34:47

While the end product is quite different, brewing beer is not all that different than many other bioproduction processes used in the lab and industry. Both require skills, experience, and the right QC/QA methods to control and monitor the starting materials and the entire process, all the way to that bottle of suds you might be thirsty for. Steve a…

1
Multiple Fragment Ligation: The Why and How 7:24

1y ago7:24

7:24

#105 — You may be familiar with standard single fragment ligations: insert, vector, ligase—done! But what if you have a complex cloning project with a massive region of DNA to clone? You can’t PCR the whole thing, and you can’t cut the entire thing out from somewhere else. What do you do? In this episode, we explain the answer: multiple fragment li…

1
Funding Opportunities and the Flow of Money in Science 9:47

1y ago9:47

9:47

#104 — What funding stream is right for you? Industry or government? Non-profits or crowdfunding? It depends on what you're researching, but also where you want to take your career. In this episode, Joel Berry, Founder, and Chief Scientist at Astound Research, breaks down the different funding streams and flow of money in bioscience research. Disco…

1
Maxam–Gilbert Sequencing: What It Is and 3 Modern Applications 8:38

1y ago8:38

8:38

#103 — DNA sequencing is a fundamental technique in modern molecular biology that has revolutionized the study of genes. In the old days, Maxam–Gilbert sequencing was the method of choice, but it has mostly been replaced by Sanger sequencing and Next-Generation methods. Yet, it still has some niche uses, and in the historical context of DNA sequenc…

1
Unsung heroes of food health and safety 32:10

1y ago32:10

32:10

When you buy chicken or turkey from the grocery store, you might not give it much thought, but there is an entire network of people working to ensure the health of the animals in our food supply chain and your health. In this episode, we talk with an unsung hero, Beverly Wood, supervisor of the molecular diagnostics lab at the North Carolina Depart…

1
Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy Explained In 3 Easy Steps 8:07

1y ago8:07

8:07

#102 — Fluorescence microscopy images not only look great but also allow us to get a better understanding of cells, structures, and tissues. And confocal laser scanning microscopy lets us construct 3D images from 2D micrographs. In this episode, learn the basic principles of confocal laser scanning microscopy, how the microscopes work, and some of …

1
How to Become an Expert at Getting Funded 10:05

1y ago10:05

10:05

#101 — Discover what it takes to become an expert at getting funded, from simple habits such as summarizing what you read in the literature, to big steps such as organizing your very own conference to establish your name in your field. With over 30 years of experience as a biomedical engineering researcher seeking grants, Joel Berry, Founder, and C…

1
Molecular Biology for hire – the CRO experience 31:53

1y ago31:53

31:53

Contract Research Organizations (CROs) are a resource that most scientists know about but relatively few have first-hand, internal experience with. In this episode our hosts speak with Saboor Hekmaty, Director of Laboratory Operations at Avrok Biosciences, who pulls back the curtain to illuminate what CROs do, and the skills required for them to be…

1
5 Types of Difficult Lab Supervisor and How to Handle Them 8:28

1+ y ago8:28

8:28

#100 — Science attracts so many different and quirky personalities that you are bound to have some people you just don’t get along with. Conflicts happen, and there are many strategies you can take to deal with conflict in the lab. But when your lab supervisor is the problem, it can be a big issue for you. In this episode, delve into the challenges…

1
7 Top Tips to Make the Most of Your Flow Cytometry Training 12:35

1+ y ago12:35

12:35

#99 — So you’ve got your flow cytometry training booked and are one step closer to that precious data. But if you want to hit the ground running and get some useful data from your samples, there are some little things you'll need to do. These include reading up on a bit of background theory, understanding the capabilities of different types of cyto…

1
What Reagents Can You Use Past Their Chemical Expiry Date? 10:04

1+ y ago10:04

10:04

#98 — Our labs can contain thousands of chemicals, many of which will be past their given expiry date and many of which are expensive to buy and replace. Replacing them when you don't need to can be a waste of time and grant money. On the other hand, using expired chemicals can lead to failed experiments and confusing results. In this episode of Me…

1
High-throughput transcriptomics and AI for drug discovery 31:56

1+ y ago31:56

31:56

Doing something complex and meaningful in a new way requires thinking and acting a bit differently. This is the case with how Dr. Joey Azofeifa, from Arpeggio Bio, is using systems biology to discover new drug candidates. Join us in this Season 2 kickoff episode where we dive headlong into transcriptomics, systems biology, machine learning, and lea…

1
How to Write an Effective Research Interest Statement 7:21

1+ y ago7:21

7:21

#97 — A research interest statement is essential to successfully apply for an academic job. In this episode, we delve into how to craft an outstanding one. [1] We cover strategies to outline your past, current, and future research in a concise format. We also explain other key elements such as, creating a compelling introduction, detailing research…

1
Season 2 Teaser 2:40

1+ y ago2:40

2:40

We start the second season of this series with an update on what you can expect from new episodes, which start to drop soon. Your host, Steve Lewis, shares details on changes you can expect as the series evolves. One change will be a broadening of application topics to be covered, as this season will include episodes discussing transcriptomics in b…

1
How to Preserve Microorganisms: Store Your Cells Better 7:33

1+ y ago7:33

7:33

#96 — An appropriate microorganism preservation method can make all the difference in maintaining the viability of your microbial strains because it plays a crucial role in ensuring reproducible results and continuity in research. In this episode, learn the preservation methods for short- and long-term microbe storage, their pros and cons, and the …

1
Overhang PCR: Add Missing DNA Sequences Using Primers 5:42

1+ y ago5:42

5:42

#95 — Have you ever accidentally forgotten to add the Kozak consensus sequence to the start of a coding gene? Or forgotten to include the stop codon? Did you clone something, then realize you wanted to tag it with something? Or do you want to add restriction enzymes to your PCR product to make it easier to clone into a plasmid? Overhang PCR may be …

1
Practical Applications and Considerations of Phenol-Chloroform Extraction 12:06

1+ y ago12:06

12:06

#94 — While there are lots of methods to choose from for cleaning up your RNA or DNA samples, for many researchers, phenol-chloroform is the go-to technique. In this episode, go beyond the basics of how the method works and get expert practical guidance on performing and optimizing it. Plus, learn the differences between the common solvents, how to…

1
How to Become a Bioinformatician 5:14

1+ y ago5:14

5:14

#93 — Bioinformatics is an interdisciplinary field that combines mathematics, computer science, physics, and biology to help answer key questions in modern biological sciences research. In this episode, we’ve got the lowdown on the training you’ll need to pursue this career path, and a handy list of resources to get you started on your learning. [1…

1
8 Cell Lysis Methods to Break Cell Walls 7:48

1+ y ago7:48

7:48

#92 — We all need to lyse cells to extract the goodness—our samples—from them. However, there are many cell lysis methods. Some are harsh, while some are gentle. Some are laborious, while some are easy. Some require dedicated equipment, while some do not. So which one do you choose? In this episode, we cover eight cell lysis methods for your experi…

1
Genetic Variants Explained 11:50

1+ y ago11:50

11:50

#91 — Genomes are complex and encode a vast quantity of information. One of their key features is genetic variants—aberrations in the genetic sequence, usually in the form of insertions, deletions, repeats, and translocations of genetic material. This episode explains the different types of genetic variants, introduces their key features, and gives…

1
How to Identify Supercoils, Nicks and Circles in DNA Plasmid Preps 4:28

1+ y ago4:28

4:28

#90 — Are you confused about the banding pattern of DNA on agarose gels? DNA can take many structural forms depending on its source and how you have isolated and purified it. And those forms, including linear, nicked, closed circled, and supercoiled, all migrate at different rates on agarose gels. But how do you identify which band corresponds to w…

1
Simplicity in Science: How to Increase your Research Effectiveness by Doing Less 6:33

1+ y ago6:33

6:33

#89 — "Achieve more by doing less" sounds like a piece of cheap advice, but there is a lot of wisdom in it. Research is complicated. You must choose the best questions to ask, techniques, controls, organisms, and equipment, to name just a few things that make up good experiments. With so much to focus on, it becomes harder to do each of these thing…

1
How to Totally Nail Your First in situ Hybridization 5:50

1+ y ago5:50

5:50

#88 — Getting the best out of your in situ hybridizations requires choosing the correct protocol, deciding if sections or whole mount is better, using the right equipment, making fresh buffers, careful planning for all steps, optimizing your probe concentration, and taking the time to get the development step right. In other words, there are a lot …

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DNA Of Success Tips Podcasts

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