Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Spreadsheet macro for setting up PCR assay tubes

R P Stowe1, D L Pierson

  • 1KRUG Life Sciences, Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, Houston, TX, USA.

Biotechniques
|June 1, 1996
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Hyperbaric hyperoxia alters innate immune functional properties during NASA Extreme Environment Mission Operation (NEEMO).

Brain, behavior, and immunity·2015
Same author

Varicella-zoster DNA in saliva of patients with meningoencephalitis: a preliminary study.

Acta neurologica Scandinavica·2014
Same author

Multiple latent viruses reactivate in astronauts during Space Shuttle missions.

Brain, behavior, and immunity·2014
Same author

Reactivation of latent viruses is associated with increased plasma cytokines in astronauts.

Cytokine·2012
Same author

Environmental hazards and stress: evidence from the Texas City Stress and Health Study.

Journal of epidemiology and community health·2009
Same author

Space flight alters bacterial gene expression and virulence and reveals a role for global regulator Hfq.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·2007
Same journal

Investigating the interactomic landscape of survival motor neuron (SMN) and the SMNΔ7 truncated protein.

BioTechniques·2026
Same journal

Antigen retrieval-immunofluorescence on free floating sections to visualize the liver lobule and its cellular makeup.

BioTechniques·2026
Same journal

Special approach of droplet digital polymerase chain reaction (ddPCR) for transgene stability of a Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cell line.

BioTechniques·2026
Same journal

Strand-specific quantification of L1 ORF0 and related transcripts by multiplex reverse transcription with tagged primers.

BioTechniques·2026
Same journal

Why and when should we choose digital PCR?

BioTechniques·2026
Same journal

Quantitative and unbiased lung alveolar septum assessment in an LPS experimental mouse model using 2D-spatial correlation image analysis from hematoxylin and eosin slides.

BioTechniques·2026
See all related articles

This tool simplifies PCR master mix calculations using a Microsoft Excel macro. It efficiently adjusts component volumes for varying DNA template amounts and tube numbers, aiding lab record-keeping.

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Biotechnology
  • Laboratory Automation

Background:

  • Accurate preparation of Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) master mix is crucial for reliable experimental outcomes.
  • Manual calculation of PCR master mix volumes can be time-consuming and prone to errors, especially with multiple variables.
  • Optimizing reagent usage is essential for cost-effectiveness in molecular biology laboratories.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To introduce a user-friendly Microsoft Excel macro for calculating PCR master mix volumes.
  • To automate the adjustment of component volumes based on DNA template concentration and the number of PCR assays.
  • To provide a standardized and printable format for PCR assay record-keeping.

Main Methods:

  • Development of a dynamic dialog box within Microsoft Excel for interactive input of variables.
Keywords:
NASA Center JSCNASA Discipline Environmental Health

Related Experiment Videos

  • Implementation of algorithms to calculate precise reagent volumes for PCR master mix.
  • Integration of a printing function for generating lab-ready protocols and records.

    • Main Results:

    • The macro dynamically calculates and displays updated PCR master mix component volumes in real-time.
    • It accommodates variations in DNA template amounts per tube and the total number of PCR tubes.
    • The generated output is formatted for efficient laboratory documentation and compliance.

    Conclusions:

    • The developed Excel macro significantly streamlines the process of PCR master mix preparation.
    • This tool enhances accuracy and efficiency in molecular biology workflows.
    • It offers a practical solution for optimizing reagent calculations and record-keeping in PCR-based assays.