Primers and PrimeViews

This PrimeView describes the SORS instrument, discusses data analysis methods and highlights some of the many applications of SORS.

This Primer discusses the basic concepts, experimental considerations and diverse applications of spatially offset Raman spectroscopy (SORS). The authors describe available SORS modalities and their advantages and disadvantages, outline strategies for analysing SORS data and discuss future directions and applications for this novel spectroscopic technique.

This PrimeView highlights the main considerations for the use of CLIP methods and shows the key experimental steps common to most CLIP techniques.

Ule and colleagues discuss cross-linking and immunoprecipitation (CLIP) methods for characterizing the RNA binding partners of RNA-binding proteins and explore the data analysis workflows, best practices and applications for these techniques. The Primer also considers methods for characterizing the protein binding partners of specific RNAs and discusses how data from these complementary methods can be integrated into CLIP workflows.

This PrimeView highlights the cross-disciplinary nature of X-ray computed tomography, with a focus on important experimental aspects such as 3D data acquisition and 3D data reconstruction.

This Primer on X-ray computed tomography explores the different experimental configurations for three-dimensional data acquisition as well as the fundamentals of three-dimensional data reconstruction, segmentation and analysis with examples across the physical and life sciences.

This PrimeView highlights important experimental and analytical aspects of conducting ancient DNA analysis, with a focus on collaboration and sample preservation.

This Primer outlines the best ways to find, handle and analyse ancient DNA from various sources. The authors summarize ethical considerations and the importance of working closely with all stakeholders, including archaeologists, curators and descendant communities.

This PrimeView highlights the design, assembly and assessment of 2D and 3D nanostructures made using DNA origami.

Dey et al. discuss the design and implementation of DNA origami, as well as the techniques used to analyse quality and construction. They summarize exciting new research areas where DNA nanotechnology is being used and future directions for the field.

This PrimeView highlights the main chromatin accessibility profiling methods. These methods include DNase-seq, ATAC-seq, MNase-seq, and DNA methylation-based methods to assess open chromatin and regulatory elements.

This Primer on chromatin accessibility profiling methods discusses differences in the methods commonly used to determine chromatin states in different cell types, including ATAC-seq and ChIP–seq. The authors summarize applications in different areas of research, from single cells to tissues and whole organisms.

This PrimeView highlights the process of producing 2D materials using chemical vapour deposition. Advances in this technique have increased yield and quality, and are being used for industrial applications.

This PrimeView highlights recombination-mediated genome engineering methods common in microbial synthetic biology. The use of one technique in particular, MAGE, is discussed in terms of its optimization and use in biotechnology and to improve human health.

Bayesian statistics are an approach to data analysis based on Bayes’ Theorem. This PrimeView provides an overview of how to select and establish priors, likelihoods, and posteriors. The use of Bayesian statistics and modelling across disciplines is discussed, along with appropriate sharing of data acquired using Bayesian methods.

Solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy is a method that provides atomic-level information for solids and semi-solids. This PrimeView provides an overview of how magic-angle spinning, and customising the use of radiofrequency pulses enables high-resolution spectra for site-specific information. The broad set of applications along with the current limitations and advancements of solid-state NMR are discussed.

This Primer on chemical vapour deposition summarizes current and emerging experimental set-ups as well as common characterization approaches used to determine thin film formation and quality as applied to graphene and other novel 2D materials.

This Primer on Bayesian statistics summarizes the most important aspects of determining prior distributions, likelihood functions and posterior distributions, in addition to discussing different applications of the method across disciplines.

This Primer by Wannier and colleagues summarizes the methodology, analysis and utility of recombineering and multiplex automated genome engineering (MAGE) in microbial species. In addition, this Primer examines advanced techniques that pair MAGE with other tools to improve editing efficiency.

This Primer on solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy summarizes the most common experiments and data analysis approaches used to determine the structure and dynamics of solids and semi-solids as applied to biology, chemistry and materials sciences.