methods Archives

30 March 2023 Science illustration representing two embryos imaged using the Brillouin microscopy technique. The embryo in the front is a mouse embryo at 20h and the one in the back a Phallusia mammillata embryo. A laser beam crosses the samples to analyse tissue stiffness (here represented by acoustic waves).

Science illustration representing two embryos imaged using the Brillouin microscopy technique. The embryo in the front is a mouse embryo at 20h and the one in the back a Phallusia mammillata embryo. A laser beam crosses the samples to analyse tissue stiffness (here represented by acoustic waves).

Shining light on the mechanics of embryo development

Lab Matters, Science A new microscope built by EMBL researchers, based on Brillouin scattering principles, allows scientists to observe the dynamics of mechanical properties inside developing embryos in real time.

2023

lab-mattersscience

22 March 2023 Artistic representation that features a long, winding helix joining together a doughnut-figure to a small shaggy ball to indicate the connections long-read sequencing can make about DNA mutations.

Artistic representation that features a long, winding helix joining together a doughnut-figure to a small shaggy ball to indicate the connections long-read sequencing can make about DNA mutations.

The ‘long read’ for cancer

Science Using Oxford Nanopore long-read sequencing, EMBL scientists sequenced a primary childhood brain tumour known as a medulloblastoma, uncovering a novel complex mutation pattern.

2023

science

3 January 2023 Pore inside a membrane with DNA moving in and out

BOSS-RUNS: streamlining dynamic nanopore sequencing

Research highlights, Science A new method developed by EMBL-EBI researchers helps to streamline nanopore sequencing in real-time.

2023

research-highlightsscience

25 June 2018 New method using silica-based columns simplifies the extraction of DNA – and RNA-protein complexes. IMAGE: Adobe stock

New way to isolate DNA- and RNA-protein complexes

Science EMBL researchers develop method that simplifies the isolation of DNA- and RNA- protein complexes

2018

science

20 June 2018 Artist's impression of data from molecular layers

Personalised medicine: one data type is not enough

Science New computational method uses multi-omics analysis for personalised medicine

2018

science

9 April 2018 A 2D dataset reconstructed to show the protein's 3D quality, using the newly developed software

New software makes 3D imaging accessible

Science Open-source software allows standard microscopes to accurately image 3D structures

2018

science

30 November 2017 Examples of e-HCFM 3D-images imaged using the technique

New technique for imaging the life aquatic

Science New method for 3D imaging microorganisms lends insight into the creatures that inhabit our oceans

2017

science

15 June 2017 Revathi Nathaniel, UX expert at EMBL-EBI.

UX toolkit aids industry R&D

Events Exploring the potential of user experience for life sciences through industry workshops

2017

events

27 April 2017

Illuminating insulin release

Science EMBL researchers develop an optical method for measuring the release of insulin from single cells

2017

science

13 April 2017 Artist's interpretation of the mouse epigenetic clock.

A race against the ageing clock

Science EMBL-EBI researchers identify mouse epigenetic clock that could help scientists understand ageing

2017

science

6 March 2017

Unlocking the secrets of nuclear movements

Science EMBL researchers develop a computer model to explore the movement of nuclei in a multinuclear cell

2017

science

2 March 2017

Metabolism matters

Science Differentiated and undifferentiated cells get energy in different ways, sensor made at EMBL shows

2017

science

14 February 2017

Lipids in real time

Science A new technique developed at EMBL reveals the way fats interact with other molecules in cells

2017

science

27 October 2016

Welcome to EMBL: Robert Prevedel

Science Robert Prevedel develops deep-tissue microscopy for scientists to peer deep inside living organisms

2016

science

19 October 2016 Human tumour sections expressing Herceptin (red), an antibody engineered by MultiBacTAG to recognize breast cancer cells. IMAGE: Christine Koehler/EMBL

Human tumour sections expressing Herceptin (red), an antibody engineered by MultiBacTAG to recognize breast cancer cells. IMAGE: Christine Koehler/EMBL

MultiBacTAG: A protein production platform

Science New platform useful for studies of protein binding, human tissue and more

2016

science

30 August 2016

Taking crystallography to the fourth dimension

Science Collaborating to take crystallography into a new time dimension

2016

science

13 June 2016

Leading the way in time-resolved crystallography

Science Establishing a programme of research, development and user services for time-resolved crystallography

2016

science

20 May 2016 Cell Chemical Biology cover image (cropped) shows an airplane approaching a runway – a metaphor for a new method developed by EMBL scientists.

Cell Chemical Biology cover image (cropped) shows an airplane approaching a runway – a metaphor for a new method developed by EMBL scientists.

Making cells move towards the light

Science New method enables scientists to use light to direct where cancer cells go

2016

science

21 April 2016 Giorgia Guglielmi 's PhD project puts development in a new light. PHOTO: EMBL Photolab/Marietta Schupp

Light control

Science EMBL PhD project puts development in a new light

2016

science

21 April 2016 CrystalDirect robot control software: signal from a video camera monitoring the laser working area within a microplate (centre), used to locate the aperture (green trace) and cutting shape (red line), and to select final position of pin tip relative to the crystal (red oval). IMAGE: Zander, U, et al.

CrystalDirect robot control software: signal from a video camera monitoring the laser working area within a microplate (centre), used to locate the aperture (green trace) and cutting shape (red line), and to select final position of pin tip relative to the crystal (red oval). IMAGE: Zander, U, et al.

Crystals in the beamlight

Science CrystalDirect, developed at EMBL, automates crystal preparation for X-ray analysis

2016

science

24 March 2016 Tuberculosis – caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis – is a potentially fatal contagious disease that can affect almost any part of the body but is mainly an infection of the lungs

Tuberculosis – caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis – is a potentially fatal contagious disease that can affect almost any part of the body but is mainly an infection of the lungs

Better tools for exploring TB protein structures

Science How an EMBL team is making and sharing tools to explore tuberculosis protein structures

2016

science

21 March 2016

Finding the way with X-Ray

Science New technique uses X-rays to find landmarks when combining fluorescence and electron microscopy

2016

science

8 March 2016 A new tool for single-cell genomics helps us better understand differences between T cell populations. [Illustration: Spencer Phillips, EMBL-EBI]

A new tool for single-cell genomics helps us better understand differences between T cell populations. [Illustration: Spencer Phillips, EMBL-EBI]

Immunology meets single-cell sequencing

Science TraCeR: new method for studying T cells opens up opportunities to explore immune responses

2016

science

11 January 2016 Parallel single-cell profiling. Angermueller et al., Nature Methods 2016

Linking DNA modification and gene expression

Science New method is first to enable parallel profiling of the transcriptome and epigenome of a single cell.

2016

science

14 December 2015 Scientists can now view and track the first days of a mouse embryo’s life. IMAGE: EMBL/ Julius Hossain

Turning point of a lifetime

Science New microscope can record the first days of a mouse embryo’s life

2015

science

19 November 2015 When illuminated with a laser, individual cells (bright yellow) within the fruit fly embryo cannot contract. This novel optogenetic approach helped to get insights into how tissues bend.

When illuminated with a laser, individual cells (bright yellow) within the fruit fly embryo cannot contract. This novel optogenetic approach helped to get insights into how tissues bend.

Lighting up development

Science Using lasers to shed light on how tissues get into shape

2015

science

2 October 2015 The 1000 Genomes Project: a timeline

A lasting legacy

Science 1000 Genomes Project pushed technologies and knowledge forward to understand what is 'normal' human genetic variation

2015

science

26 August 2015 Hands-on sessions were a crucial part of the course. PHOTO: EMBL Photolab/Marietta Schupp

Super impressions

Events "It's like living a review!" Participants of recent super-resolution microscopy course share their highlights

2015

events

16 June 2015 mSet algorithm

Large-scale genetic analysis made easier

Science Researchers at EMBL-EBI speed up complex GWAS analyses with new method and algorithm.

2015

science

5 May 2015

When microbes feed each other

Science Cooperate or compete? Microbes show us that getting along is the better choice for communities.

2015

science

6 April 2015

Bypassing errors

Science Coin toss inspires CorMap: a new statistical test that sidesteps need for error estimation.

2015

science

2 April 2015

Team spirit in the genome

Science Go Team Genome! New method reveals genetic teamwork in drosophila genome.

2015

science

4 March 2015 Where and when are different molecules contributing to the bending of the membrane? IMAGE: EMBL/A. Picco

Best of three worlds

Science Combining three different kinds of microscopy to determine how molecules move during endocytosis.

2015

science

4 February 2015 The new method helps identify which mutations to a gene actually cause a disease. IMAGE FROM THORMAEHLEN ET AL.

Beyond sequencing

Science New microscopy-based method goes beyond gene sequencing, pinpointing the cause of disease.

2015

science

28 January 2015 Barcoding enables scientists to search for epigenetics tags in many samples at once. IMAGE: MANUEL (CC BY 2.0)

Barcoding epigenetics

Science New Bar-ChIP method makes it easier to search for epigenetic marks in many samples at once

2015

science

27 January 2015 Building blocks TAF8 (blue), TAF10 (green) and TAF2 (not shown) form a module in the cytoplasm before entering the nucleus to form TFIID. IMAGE: EMBL/I.BERGER

Building blocks TAF8 (blue), TAF10 (green) and TAF2 (not shown) form a module in the cytoplasm before entering the nucleus to form TFIID. IMAGE: EMBL/I.BERGER

Come together

Science First experimental proof that a key cellular machine forms by uniting pre-assembled modules.

2015

science

26 January 2015

Awards & Honours

Lab Matters EMBL scientists regularly receive prestigious awards – meet the latest honourees.

2015

lab-matters

26 January 2015 ILLUSTRATION: AAD GOUDAPPEL

Cell control in a flash

Science From using light to control brain activity to illuminating fruit fly development and mice’s sense of touch

2015

science

23 January 2015

Turn out the light

Alumni Alumnus Stefan Hell on his 2014 Nobel Prize for Chemistry

2015

alumni

9 December 2014 A bundle of nerves that relays information from touch receptors on the skin to the spinal cord and ultimately the brain, imaged with the new technique. IMAGE: EMBL/L.CASTALDI