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Sanger sequencing has been the gold standard for DNA sequencing for nearly 50 years and understanding how it works is fundamental to modern molecular biology. This post explains the components of the sequencing reaction, how ddNTPs terminate DNA synthesis, and how fluorescent dyes and capillary electrophoresis are used to read the sequence.

NGS (Next Generation Sequencing) can sequence a whole human genome in a single day, a process that took over 30 years with the Human Genome Project. This animation explains how NGS works step-by-step, including library preparation, cluster generation, sequencing by synthesis, and how billions of DNA strands are sequenced simultaneously. You'll also learn how NGS compares to Sanger sequencing, how sequencing reads are filtered and mapped to a reference genome, and the key appl

Learn about autoimmunity, how autoimmune diseases develop and the symptoms they cause.

Find out all about mast cells, their usual role in fighting infections and how they can cause allergies and anaphylaxis.

Mast cells and basophils are distinct immune cells. Find out how they're different and in what ways they're similar.

qPCR and PCR are fundamental techniques in molecular biology, used in everything from disease diagnosis to medical research. This animation explains how PCR uses DNA, primers, nucleotides and Taq Polymerase to amplify DNA, how real-time PCR detects and quantifies DNA as it is copied, and how multiplex qPCR uses different coloured probes to detect multiple targets in one tube. Examples include respiratory infection testing for Influenza A, Influenza B and SARS-CoV-2.

Organoids are miniature organs grown from stem cells in the lab, and they're transforming how scientists study disease and develop treatments. In this video, find out how organoids are made from adult stem cells and induced pluripotent stem cells, how 3D bioprinting is being used to build tissues, and whether we can ever grow fully functional human organs.

Why do the trillions of cells in your body - all carrying identical DNA - look and behave so differently? A nerve cell, a red blood cell and a muscle cell share the same genetic blueprint, yet they couldn't be more different in cell structure and function. Understanding how this works is one of the most fascinating questions in cell biology, and the answer lies in which genes and proteins each cell switches on.