April 1, 2012 (Vol. 32, No. 7)
URL:
Rating:
Strong Points: Minimal product placements, very comprehensive resource
Weak Points: Nothing major
Platform:
iPhone
Cost:
Free
Summary:
Are you new to quantitative (or “real-time”) PCR? Maybe you’re just looking to brush up on the basics of designing and analyzing qPCR experiments. Perhaps your reactions aren’t working. Again. Whatever brings you to the free qPCR app by Bio-Rad, chances are you will find what you’re looking for. This app is a comprehensive qPCR guide that walks users through various considerations required to set up, analyze, and optimize qPCR experiments. The app is divided into four sections: qPCR guide, PCR doctor, PCR reagents selectors, and assay design. While one will certainly encounter plugs for Bio-Rad products, these product placements are kept to a surprising minimum. Therefore, this app is an excellent resource even if you are not using the company’s reagents in your experiments. The PCR doctor is an especially useful feature of the app, as any researcher knows that “PCR” and “troubleshooting” go hand-in-hand.