In this Mol Bio Minutes mini-episode, Laurynas Alijošius shares how Rolling Circle Amplification (RCA) provides a reliable, high-yield approach for amplifying circular DNA prior to next-generation sequencing (NGS). This isothermal method avoids the need for thermal cycling and even bypasses the need for specific primers—making it ideal for challenging viral genomes, rare targets, or field samples.

Powered by the strand-displacing phi29 DNA polymerase, RCA amplifies DNA with impressive sensitivity and minimal GC bias. Laurynas breaks down the steps of multiple displacement amplification (MDA), explains why exonuclease-resistant primers are important, and explores how engineered polymerases like EquiPhi29™ DNA Polymerase dramatically improve yield and reduce reaction times. RCA products can be cleaned up and debranched to support a range of downstream workflows, including nanopore sequencing and transcriptomics.

From single-cell genomics to phage-based applications and in vitro expression systems, RCA is more than just a pre-NGS step; it’s a versatile tool with broad utility. Whether you're stabilizing viral RNA or tackling ultra-low-input samples, RCA and whole genome amplification offer new flexibility for today’s demanding sequencing workflows.

Subscribe to get future episodes as they drop and if you like what you’re hearing we hope you’ll share a review or recommend the series to a colleague. 

Visit the Invitrogen School of Molecular Biology to access helpful molecular biology resources and educational content, and please share this resource with anyone you know working in molecular biology. 

For Research Use Only. Not for use in diagnostic procedures.

Applyo Jena is building a freeze-dried future, one bead at a time. In this episode, Dr. Hanno Hermann and Dr. Thanh Tu Hellmich-Duong walk us through how their lyo-bead technology emerged from the challenges of field-based HIV diagnostics and evolved into a flexible platform that stabilizes everything from enzymes to magnetic nanoparticles, without the need for refrigeration.

From diagnostics research to therapeutics, this lyophilization platform is solving key pain points in reagent formulation, shipping, and field use. Hanno and Thanh Tu explain how lyo-beads offer precise, single-use reagent doses with near-instantaneous rehydration, minimal batch-to-batch variability, and extended ambient temperature stability. Whether it's for isothermal RT-LAMP, next-gen sequencing prep, or phage-based application, Applyo’s platform unlocks new formats, simplifies logistics, and lowers the environmental burden of molecular workflows.

With new hires, new markets, and new product lines on the horizon, Applyo Jena is poised for a decade of growth and maybe even a hand in reshaping the way freeze-dried pharmaceuticals are developed and delivered.

Subscribe to get future episodes as they drop and if you like what you’re hearing we hope you’ll share a review or recommend the series to a colleague. 

Visit the Invitrogen School of Molecular Biology to access helpful molecular biology resources and educational content, and please share this resource with anyone you know working in molecular biology. 

For Research Use Only. Not for use in diagnostic procedures.

In this Mol Bio Minutes episode, Thermo Fisher Scientific’s Monika Jazdauskaitė dives into the versatile world of Recombinase Polymerase Amplification (RPA). Unlike PCR, RPA operates at a constant, low temperature (around 37–42°C), enabling fast, equipment-light workflows that are ideal for field diagnostics and decentralized labs. Monika explains how the method works and why RPA is emerging as a go-to technique for both DNA and RNA target detection.

She highlights RPA’s specificity, sensitivity, and robustness against common inhibitors like ethanol and heparin, critical for applications like respiratory pathogen detection or low-quality sample inputs. Plus, she shares how RPA’s gentle conditions and lyophilization compatibility make it a strong candidate for stabilizing next-generation sequencing (NGS) libraries, especially those with high GC content.

Whether you're looking to simplify pathogen detection or streamline your sequencing prep, RPA offers a compelling alternative to traditional amplification. And with ready-to-use kits like the Invitrogen™ Lyo-ready RPA Kit, Thermo Fisher is helping researchers bring speed and stability to molecular workflows, all with no thermal cycler required.

Subscribe to get future episodes as they drop and if you like what you’re hearing we hope you’ll share a review or recommend the series to a colleague. 

Visit the Invitrogen School of Molecular Biology to access helpful molecular biology resources and educational content, and please share this resource with anyone you know working in molecular biology. 

For Research Use Only. Not for use in diagnostic procedures.

In this episode of Speaking of Mol Bio, Dr. Andre Ghetti, CEO of AnaBios, offers a deep dive into the world of translational preclinical research. AnaBios is redefining early human insights by using ethically sourced, functional human tissues and cells to generate actionable data before compounds ever enter clinical trials. Ghetti walks us through the company’s approach of offering human-relevant safety and efficacy data, validating drug targets, and supporting everything from small startups to major pharma groups.

We learn how AnaBios engages with clients to customize assays, especially in high-need areas like non-opioid pain therapies, fibrosis, and cardiac safety, and how they use a blend of standardized and novel functional assays, some of which required building their own hardware. He also discusses their integration of RT-PCR, RNA-seq, and calcium imaging, including genetically encoded sensors to monitor neuronal activity at scale.

From their use of machine learning to analyze massive data sets, to collaborations with the FDA, to their unique ability to preserve tissue viability across the U.S., AnaBios offers a powerful glimpse into the future of translational biology. Dr. Ghetti also shares advice for young scientists and reflects on what’s next for AnaBios, including oncology and stem-cell model integration.

Subscribe to get future episodes as they drop and if you like what you’re hearing we hope you’ll share a review or recommend the series to a colleague. 

Visit the Invitrogen School of Molecular Biology to access helpful molecular biology resources and educational content, and please share this resource with anyone you know working in molecular biology. 

For Research Use Only. Not for use in diagnostic procedures.

In this Mol Bio Minutes episode, Thermo Fisher Scientific's Dr. Agnė Alminaitė unveils an exciting new approach for assay developers: Dry-Ready™ reagents for RT-LAMP and RT-qPCR. These innovations eliminate the need for lyophilizers by enabling air drying of molecular assays in a standard heating oven, producing room temperature-stable assays in under two hours.

Agnė walks listeners through how Dry-Ready differs from traditional Lyo-Ready™ and lyophilization methods, while delivering similar stability and performance. She explains the critical role of thermostable enzymes and specially developed excipient mixes that protect enzyme function during the drying process.

The episode introduces two new kits: the Dry-Ready™ RT-LAMP Kit, ideal for flexible assay development and point-of-care settings, and the one-step Dry-Ready™ RT-qPCR Kit, a powerful tool for simplified, dual-function reactions. Both kits are customizable and empower even small labs to stabilize assays without complex equipment.

Whether you're commercializing a kit or looking to simplify your workflow, this episode offers actionable insight into next-generation assay stabilization. And don't miss the special promo code below!

Helpful resource links mentioned in this episode:

• Learn more about air-drying and lyophilization for assay stabilization.
• Visit the product pages for the Dry-Ready products Agnė introduced:
  • Invitrogen Dry-Ready™ RT-qPCR Kit
  • Invitrogen Dry-Ready™ RT-LAMP Kit
• Access all Thermo Fisher Scientific promotional offers
• Access your exclusive Speaking of Mol Bio promotional offer
  • Enter code “CAZDUA” if in the U.S.
  • Enter code “CZ7F19” in in Canada

Subscribe to get future episodes as they drop and if you like what you’re hearing we hope you’ll share a review or recommend the series to a colleague. 

Visit the Invitrogen School of Molecular Biology to access helpful molecular biology resources and educational content, and please share this resource with anyone you know working in molecular biology. 

For Research Use Only. Not for use in diagnostic procedures.

In this inspiring episode, Dr. Felipe Gálvez-Cancino, group leader at Oxford's Center for Immuno-Oncology, walks us through his team’s groundbreaking research on macrophages, T cells, and immune regulation in solid tumors. Tracing his path from early cancer vaccine work to advanced antibody-dependent cellular phagocytosis (ADCP), Felipe shares how his team is working to reprogram tumor-associated macrophages to more efficiently eliminate cancer cells.

He explains how regulatory CD4+ T cells suppress both T cell and macrophage responses within tumors and how removing that suppression can supercharge phagocytic function. We also hear how his lab is leveraging mouse models of hepatocellular carcinoma, clinical samples, and modern molecular biology techniques (like in vivo liver transfection and CRISPR-ready plasmid engineering) to study intratumor heterogeneity and antigen spreading.

Felipe also reflects on the value of early molecular biology training—like mastering gigapreps—and emphasizes the importance of curiosity, persistence, and collaboration in scientific careers. Whether you’re interested in cancer biology, immunotherapy, or just passionate about translating discoveries into new therapies, this episode offers both technical depth and motivational insight.

Subscribe to get future episodes as they drop and if you like what you’re hearing we hope you’ll share a review or recommend the series to a colleague. 

Visit the Invitrogen School of Molecular Biology to access helpful molecular biology resources and educational content, and please share this resource with anyone you know working in molecular biology. 

For Research Use Only. Not for use in diagnostic procedures.

In this Mol Bio Minutes episode, Dr. Will Barnes, a plant biologist turned senior sales training specialist at Thermo Fisher Scientific, reflects on his time at the bench and the molecular lessons learned along the way. Will dives deep into the difficulties of RNA work in plant systems—carbohydrate contamination, genomic DNA carryover, secondary structure—and how these hindered everything from cloning and expression analysis to sequencing and qPCR.

Through real-world anecdotes, he explains how high-quality reagents and systems helped him troubleshoot and resolve recurring issues, ultimately saving time and improving data reliability. He advocates for prioritizing upstream steps like RNA integrity and reverse transcription fidelity instead of chasing fixes at the end of the workflow.

Listeners will leave with a deeper appreciation for the critical role of sample prep in molecular biology workflows and why investing in better tools pays off in cleaner data, greater confidence, and fewer headaches. Will’s experience is a relatable reminder that smarter choices lead to better science.

Helpful resource links mentioned in this episode:

• Learn about molecular cloning workflows and Gateway cloning solutions
• Explore a variety of resources on reverse transcription
• TaqMan vs SYBR Chemistry for Real-Time PCR
• Using MagMAX kits for automated nucleic acid extraction
• Learn more about, or order,SuperScript IV VILO Master Mix
• Explore RNA/DNA quantification solutions, including Qubit and Nanodrop instruments

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Limited time promotional offer – Be one of the first 75 listeners to spend $500 and get 40% off all eligible reverse transcriptase, plastics, enzymes, and cloning reagents. 

• Visit thermofisher.com/sombpromo for full details
• Enter promo code CAZDUA in the U.S.A.
• Enter promo code CZ7F19 in Canada

Subscribe to get future episodes as they drop and if you like what you’re hearing we hope you’ll share a review or recommend the series to a colleague. 

Visit the Invitrogen School of Molecular Biology to access helpful molecular biology resources and educational content, and please share this resource with anyone you know working in molecular biology. 

For Research Use Only. Not for use in diagnostic procedures.

In this episode of Speaking of Mol Bio, host Steve Lewis speaks with Dr. Melissa Wu, co-founder and CEO of Seeding Labs, a nonprofit that’s redefining global scientific access. Dr. Wu shares the inspiring story of how Seeding Labs helps institutions in developing nations build research infrastructure by redistributing surplus laboratory equipment from partners like Thermo Fisher Scientific.

With an innovative model that connects equipment donors in the global North with universities and institutes across Africa, Asia, and Latin America, Seeding Labs enables groundbreaking science in places where opportunity is limited but talent is abundant. Dr. Wu highlights examples like the Malawi University of Science and Technology, whose graduates are now staffing the country's first hospital microbiology labs, and a Beninese research team using donated PCR equipment to improve the yield of indigenous crops like the miracle berry.

More than a logistics operation, Seeding Labs is also fostering scientific networks, reversing brain drain, and giving researchers confidence, courage, and agency. Dr. Wu offers a compelling vision of an equitable global scientific ecosystem, and shares how listeners can get involved—whether by donating equipment, funds, or simply spreading the word.

Subscribe to get future episodes as they drop and if you like what you’re hearing we hope you’ll share a review or recommend the series to a colleague. 

Visit the Invitrogen School of Molecular Biology to access helpful molecular biology resources and educational content, and please share this resource with anyone you know working in molecular biology. 

For Research Use Only. Not for use in diagnostic procedures.

In this Mol Bio Minutes mini-episode, Thermo Fisher Scientific’s Agnė Žiupkaitė takes listeners on a journey through the evolving world of RNA assay development—focusing specifically on 1-Step RT-qPCR. She outlines the critical considerations for assay developers, including enzyme speed, robustness, and the growing demand for customizable reagents that meet both technical and regulatory needs.

Highlighting Thermo Fisher’s SuperScript reverse transcriptase family—particularly the Lyo-ready SuperScript III Flash RT—Agnė explains how innovations in enzyme design have broken past bottlenecks in assay workflow, enabling reverse transcription in under a minute. She also explores the power of customization, from labeling and fill formats to enzyme formulation changes and glycerol-free options that support microfluidic platforms and lyophilization.

Agnė offers practical insight into how raw material suppliers can serve as collaborative partners, not just vendors. She emphasizes the importance of commercial rights, scalability, and regulatory readiness when sourcing components for commercial assay kits. Whether you're an OEM kit developer or a scientist building the next molecular breakthrough, this episode is packed with actionable insights to improve efficiency, reliability, and speed.

Helpful resource links mentioned in this episode:

• Learn more about raw materials for molecular diagnostics
• Order Lyo-ready SuperScript III Flash Transcriptase
• Visit this page to expand your knowledge of reverse transcription

Subscribe to get future episodes as they drop and if you like what you’re hearing we hope you’ll share a review or recommend the series to a colleague. 

Visit the Invitrogen School of Molecular Biology to access helpful molecular biology resources and educational content, and please share this resource with anyone you know working in molecular biology. 

For Research Use Only. Not for use in diagnostic procedures.

In this episode, host Steve Lewis sits down with Giovanna Prout, President and CEO of Scale Biosciences, to explore how Scale is pushing the boundaries of single-cell omics. With a career that spans roles with big players and entrepreneurial ventures, Giovanna brings a unique perspective to the world of genomics innovation.

Giovanna dives into Scale's patented Quantum Barcoding technology—a high-throughput, combinatorial indexing approach that allows researchers to process millions of cells and thousands of samples simultaneously, all without the need for specialized instrumentation. She explains how this flexible, automation-friendly platform is opening doors for AI-driven data modeling, large-scale drug screening, and highly diverse patient cohort studies.

Beyond the science, Giovanna reflects on her leadership journey, emphasizing persistence, servant leadership, and a passion for making a difference in life sciences. She also shares the vision behind the 100 Million Cell Initiative, a bold collaboration that empowers scientists to dream big without constraints. For early-career scientists, Giovanna offers candid advice on working hard, staying curious, and believing in the impact of their work.

Subscribe to get future episodes as they drop and if you like what you’re hearing we hope you’ll share a review or recommend the series to a colleague. 

Visit the Invitrogen School of Molecular Biology to access helpful molecular biology resources and educational content, and please share this resource with anyone you know working in molecular biology. 

For Research Use Only. Not for use in diagnostic procedures.