Reference and Education
Things to consider when selecting life science research products
When selecting a life science research product, it is important to consider the product’s intended use, the amount and type of data you need to generate, and your budget. Always consult with your research advisor to make sure you are selecting the right product for your experiment.
- Choose the right product: When selecting a life science research product, it is important to consider its intended use. For example, if you are looking to study protein expression, you will need a different product than if you are looking to study gene expression.
- Consider the budget: It is also important to consider your budget when selecting a life science research product from any given company such as https://www.cedarlanelabs.com/. Generally speaking, it will cost more money for higher throughput products that provide larger amounts and types of data than lower throughput products that provide fewer data and smaller output volumes. You will also pay more for newer technologies than tested and older technologies.
- Work with your research advisor: When selecting a life science research product, it is always important to consult with your research advisor to make sure you are selecting the right product for your experiment. Your advisor will help you determine the amount and type of data you need to generate and what products are available to fit your budget.
- Consider the product’s shelf life: It is also important to consider the product’s shelf life. For example, if you are only using the product for a short-term experiment, then a product with a shorter shelf life may be more appropriate than a product with a longer shelf life.
- Consider product stability: Besides considering the shelf life, it is important to consider product stability. The best way to determine how stable a product is by looking at its expiration date. Newer products are more stable than older products. However, do not assume that the most recently manufactured products are always stable. Check with your supplier or research advisor before purchasing any product, assuming that new means better quality and stability.
- Check if other options are available: If you know what type of data you need but cannot find a single product that does everything for your experiment, consider finding multiple products instead of relying on one product alone. This will increase the cost of your experiment, but it may be worth it to have the flexibility to use different products to generate the data you need.
- Be familiar with the product’s applications: it is important to be familiar with the product’s applications to get the most out of a life science research product. For example, if you know that a product is designed for gene expression analysis, you can use that information to determine which genes you want to analyze. Likewise, if you are familiar with the types of data a product can generate, you can ensure that your experiment is designed to collect data that will be useful for your research goals.
When selecting a life science research product, it is important to consider many factors. The factors listed above are a good starting point, but it is always important to consult with your research advisor to select the right product for your needs.