Unveiling the Viral Structure: The Capsid
What does a spiral staircase have in common with a tobacco plant virus? A spiral staircase is an example of helical symmetry, where a shape repeats as it twists and moves along a spiral path. A spiral staircase is efficient because it maximizes space, allowing for...
Virology through numbers: Converting TCID50 to IU
In this blog series, we will explore the mathematics of virology, sharing insights that reveal new dimensions in our results and guide us from awareness to creativity. In the first of the series, we looked at the plaque assay and the TCID50 assay – the two main...
Virology through numbers: Plaque and TCID50 assays
As we do our best to map out natural phenomena, math gives us the precision we need to explore and understand them. It’s like a compass and a map. Whether we’re calculating the orbits of planets, deciphering the code of DNA, or predicting the next big...
What is cell culture, and how has it evolved?
It’s 1907, and Ross G. Harrison has just developed a method of cultivating animal tissues outside of the body by removing fragments of frog embryo and growing them on a drop of clotted frog’s lymph. It’s 2024, and we’re growing brain organoids – tiny, lab-grown models...Page 5 of 33