Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News

OCT1 2012

Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News (GEN) is the world's most widely read biotech publication. It provides the R&D; community with critical information on the tools, technologies, and trends that drive the biotech industry.

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Organic Chemistry Essentials Platform: iPad/iPhone Cost: Free A collection of useful "cheat sheets" Best Science Apps ++ – No electron movement depicted in reaction flashcards Students of organic chemistry will probably appreciate the casual style of this educational app, which includes humorous references and mnemonics (and even a chemistry humor section). While not the most profes- sional chemistry reference app in either tone or design aesthetic, the Organic Chemistry Essentials app is composed of a number of chemical reactions and facts that are, well, essential to learning organic chemistry. These include sections dedicated to determining R versus S stereochemistry, tips for interpreting NMR spectra, and a review of the properties of various organic reagents. One limitation to the app is that it does not depict electron movement in its reactions, instead reducing the tutorials to mere exer- cises in the memorization of reactants and products. MS iCalc Platform: iPhone Cost: Free Sleek design, many tools – No introduction/help section With a sleek design aesthetic and a number of useful calculators, the MS iCalc app by AB SCIEX is an excellent iPhone app for mass spectroscopists. App users begin by entering a chemical formula to display properties of the compound such as mass and the number of rings/double bonds. (The periodic table-like keyboard makes enter- ing chemical formulas slightly less painful.) From there, users can view the isotope pattern for that compound in either graphical or tabular form. Other features of the app include (among others) a calculator that calculates the mass/charge (m/z) values for user-specified peptide frag- ments; a table including the names, symbols, and masses of the amino acids; and a list of peptide modifications with their mass shifts. The only feature missing from this app is a help page. PerkinElmer Gas Chromatography Essentials Platform: iPad Cost: Free Good basic introduction to GC – A very commercial feel to the app ++ Touted as an educational introduc- tion to gas chromatography, the PerkinElmer Gas Chromatography Essentials app is certainly more of an advertisement for PerkinElmer than a strictly educational tool. Yet, the inclusion of the "basics" section— which does introduce app users to the basics of gas chromatography— is enough to cast the rest of the app in an educational light. For instance, after you've read about the parts of a gas chromatograph, you can then identify those components on pho- tos of actual instruments. The "app notes" section of the app is another section serving the dual function- ality of advertisement and education. The section is essentially a series of case studies that highlight the many application of GC and GC/MS, written in easy-to-understand language. So if you can look past the product-brochure feel of this app, there is actually interesting information contained within it. Links to the apps described above are posted on GEN's website, www.genengnews.com. To suggest an app for Best Science Apps, please send a link to Taralyn Tan (ttan@genengnews.com). Key 86 | October 1, 2012 | genengnews.com | Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News Strong Points – Weak Points ++++ Buffers Platform: iPad/iPhone Cost: $1.99 Can customize recipes to specific temperatures, etc. – Limited to a predefined list of buffers +++ Well, the name of this app certainly leaves no ambigu- ity to its purpose. Yes, you guessed it—it calculates buffer recipes! Users select a buffer from a predefined list that includes many common buffers such as HEPES and Tris, and which also includes the pKa values for each buffer. (There is the option to sort the list by pKa, which could be used to identify a suitable buffer for a particular application.) Next, the user specifies the de- sired pH, concentration, volume, and the temperature at which the solution will be used. (An error message appears if the user selects a pH that is outside of the effective range of the buffer at the given temperature and concentration.) The recipe, which is displayed be- low, automatically updates as variables are changed. The recipe display also mentions how the pH of the buffer will change with temperature. Chemistry Formulas Platform: iPad/iPhone Cost: $0.99 Customizable periodic table – Can only add text to areas of A useful (although not flawless) reference for chemistry stu- dents, this app includes a very nicely annotated periodic table that displays many properties beyond just the atomic weight of each element when the screen is double tapped. Even more useful is the option to customize the information that is dis- played—users can even add their own information to be dis- played, if desired. The chemistry formulas and chemistry funda- mentals sections are best viewed on the iPhone, as they do not scale to the full width of the iPad. Users should be made aware that these sections contain multiple pages—something that is easily missed unless you notice the scroll icon at the bottom of the screen. The app provides users the opportunity to create their own reference sheets, with the option to upload photos from their device. However, this feature is greatly limited by the fact that text can only be added if an image is present. Emergency Toxicology Platform: iPhone Cost: Free Easy to navigate, useful information – None ++++ Targeted for students of medicine, the Emergency Toxicology is an incredibly useful educational resource. Covering many different classes of compounds related to the field of toxicology—such as common overdoses, antidotes, pregnancy exposures, and nontoxic inges- tions—the app provides users with terse and pertinent information. For example, one may select a specific antidote compound to read about its biological mech- anism, indications, dose information, and a list of com- plications/challenges. The app is easy to navigate and simply presented. The text is understandable, but cer- tainly written for an audience familiar with basic medi- cal/scientific terminology. The Emergency Toxicology app could therefore also appeal to scientists who are curious about the biological mechanisms or medical importance of commonly encountered compounds. Ratings Excellent Very Good ++++ +++ Good ++ the screen containing images ++

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