Learn what five central techniques measure, how experiments are designed, and which conclusions the measurements can support.
Single-cell RNA sequencing measures RNA from individual cells rather than averaging a whole tissue. Researchers separate cells, prepare their RNA for sequencing and use computational analysis to compare expression patterns. Cells with related patterns can be grouped, then interpreted using known markers and experimental context.
Read the method guide →CRISPR tools use a targeting system adapted from bacterial biology to change selected DNA sequences or, in some experimental designs, regulate gene activity. Researchers compare the effects of a targeted perturbation with suitable controls to test a biological hypothesis. The design depends on whether the question concerns sequence, expression or the contribution of a gene to a cellular process.
Read the method guide →Fluorescence microscopy uses light emitted by fluorescent labels to make selected structures visible. A label may identify a protein, a cell population or another molecular feature. Researchers choose the labeling strategy, imaging system and acquisition conditions according to the biological question. Stanford’s Cell Sciences Imaging Facility supports wide-field, confocal and other optical imaging approaches.
Read the method guide →Three-dimensional cell models reproduce selected features of tissues under laboratory conditions. Organoids and region-specific spheroids allow researchers to study cellular organization and development. Assembled models bring distinct tissue components together to investigate interactions that a single component cannot reproduce.
Read the method guide →Engineered cell therapy modifies living cells to perform a chosen task. In CAR T-cell approaches, researchers add a receptor that helps T cells recognize a molecular target on cancer cells. Cells must be manufactured, characterized and delivered using a defined protocol, with testing appropriate to the stage of development.
Read the method guide →Learn how study design changes the conclusions a paper can support.
How to read a biology paper →Biology glossary →