If it can’t pee, it won’t bite me

We thought that you would enjoy this reprise of a poular post from 2010. A story published in AJP about a discovery that may lead to a new way to control mosquitoes that spread dengue fever, yellow fever and other diseases. Scientists found that mosquitoes need to urinate while feeding on human blood in order to survive. Thus preventing the mosquitoes from urinating may be an effective way of controlling their population.

To read more see If It Can’t Pee, It Won’t Bite Me

Top Post of 2010: Inspiration for the Biotechnologist

Our top post of 2010 was a feel good video for the burnt out scientist from the World Science Festival. If you are feeling burnt out or your experiments are becoming monotonous or if you are just in need some inspiration you should definitely check out this great video! Scientists are inspirational. Don’t you ever forget it!

Inspiration for the Biotechnologist

Wishing the entire Canadian Biotechnologist community a Happy, Healthy and Inspirational 2011!

Top 10 of 2010: Cell Culture Paradise

In spot number 3 in the countdown of the top 10 posts in 2010 is a story about a brand new technology that vastly improves the lives of most cell biologists. OK, perhaps this is a bit of an exaggeration, but most cell biologists view cell counting as a necessary evil and find it quite boring and tedious. Furthermore, unbeknownst to most scientists, poor counting techniques can lead to a plethora of errors in downstream cell culture experiments.

That is why the introduction of Bio-Rad’s TC10 Automated Cell Counter earlier this year was such a hit with cell biologists. The TC-10 Automated Cell Counter automates the cell counting procedure and removes subjectivity. It is also capable of determining cell viability when your cells are stained with trypan blue and will provides users with an exact number of live cells in their culture.

For more information and to see an introductory video visit Cell Culture Paradise

Top 10 of 2010: Increasing efficiency of biomarker studies

In 4th place in the countdown of the top 10 posts in 2010 is a post on better research tools for discovering cytokine and chemokine biomarkers. The post included case studies from two prominent biomarker discovery labs and an introduction to a cytokine multiplex bead array panel from Bio-Rad Laboratories.

For more information see How to Increase the Efficiency of Your Cytokine BioMarker Study

Top 10 of 2010: Funding for Canadian Life Sciences

Counting down the top 10 posts of 2010, in 6th spot is a post pondering the adequacy of the 2010 financial budget for the Canadian life sciences industry. According to Jim Flaherty’s prediction at the time, the Canadian government will invest almost $1.9B in post-secondary education infrastructure, research, technology innovation and environmental protection as part of its $19B stimulus plan for 2010. The budget drew a mixed reaction from Canadian life scientists with some in favour of the budget while others described it as largely inadequate.

For more on the story see Is the 2010 Financial Budget Adequate for the Canadian Life Science Industry?

And, now that the year is (almost) over, let us know how you think things panned out.