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Nature 441, 678 (8 June 2006) | doi:10.1038/441678a; Published online 7 June 2006

Online methods share insider tricks

Helen Pearson

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Wiki-style website allows tinkering with lab protocols.

Replicating controversial lab results or tricky methods could become easier, thanks to a new breed of websites where scientists share and edit each other's laboratory techniques.Laboratory protocols in biology and chemistry — the step-by-step guide to, say, separating proteins or splicing DNA fragments — are conventionally published in research papers or books of standard protocols.