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Products featured this week from companies based in Scandinavia include an RNA/DNA calculator, an automatic peptide synthesizer optimized for Fmoc polyamide chemistry and an ATP biomass kit.
In the picture this week - a one-step photographic copier, new microplates for the radioisotopic and luminescent analysis of adherent cells and an inverted confocal microscope that provides simultaneous imaging of three fluorochromes.
Microscopic objects, including biological material, can be remotely manipulated with tightly focused beams of infrared laser light. The use of optical traps, or 'optical tweezers', holds great promise for noninvasive micromanipulation and mechanical measurement in cell biology. Optical tweezers are the 'tractor beams' of today's technology.
The role of specific chemicals in the aetiology of human cancer can now be assessed using 32P-postlabelling in combination with corroborative biomonitoring techniques.
A chamber for assessing the invasive properties of cells in vitro, tritium-labelled AZT-triphosphate and a gel microdrop maker are a selection of this week's new products in the scientific marketplace.
Fluorescent intercalation complexes of certain polycationic ligands with double-stranded DNA provide a new class of multichromophore labels for fluorescence assays.
Featured this week – DNA sequencing and analysis software, human genomic mapping probes and an enzyme-linked assay for the identification of amplified target DNA.
Research tools for the neuroscientist featured this week include a patch-clamp analysis software package, a selection of perfusion chambers, imaging systems and an assortment of antibodies.
Competitive reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) can be used to obtain quantitative information of mRNA levels comparable to traditional RNA blot techniques, with the added advantages of PCR.
Scientific graphing calculators that make light work of problem solving, a pulse controller to provide enhanced resolution of DNA samples and an imaging system for low-cost photography are featured this week.
Featured this week — oligonucleotide purification and analysis kits, an instrument for automated oligo synthesis and a host of peptide-related products.
The physical mapping of chromosomes will be facilitated by methods of breaking large DNA into manageable fragments, or cutting uniquely at genetic markers of interest. Key issues in the design of sequence-specific DNA cleaving reagents are the specificity of binding, the number of different sequences that can be targeted and the cleavage yield.
Next week's American Chemical Society meeting to be held in Washington, DC, USA will feature a collection of US patents on CD-ROM, a protein sequencer and software for the analysis of mass spectral data of proteins and peptides.
ImmunoDetection is a novel technique combining perfusion chromatography technology with antibodies to perform the steps of an immunoassay in a flow-through column format. Sensitive and precise measurements are performed in seconds to minutes using automated liquid chromatography instrumentation.
Featured this week — a compendium of immunological reagents, microplate analysis software and an in vitro cell culture system for the production of monoclonal antibodies, which provides an alternative to ascites production.
The advent of 33P nucleotide triphosphates has widened the options available for labelling nucleic acids. Choosing the most appropriate label requires a careful consideration of experimental needs and circumstances.
