Scientific Methods - The Foundation of Science: Editorial

Journal of Biological Methods | 2014 | Vol.
1 | e4
DOI: 10.14440/jbm.2014.20 EDITORIAL
Scientific methods – the foundation of science

Long-Cheng Li1* and Dieter C. Gruenert1*
1
Editor-in-Chief
* Corresponding authors: E-mail: lilc@jbmethods.org or dgruenert@ohns.ucsf.edu
Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.
Received March 15, 2014; Published April 3, 2014
“工欲善其事，必先利其器”
‘If a workman wishes to do a good job, he must first sharpen his tools’
This ancient adage from Confucius maintains its relevance even in the life sciences.
now in the information age where the potential applications of new Dr Li is joined by Dr Dieter C Gruenert as Co-Editor-in-Chief, who
technology are limited only by the imagination. Historically, the devel- is a Professor of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery as well as a
opment and dissemination of novel techniques & methods has served member of the Eli and Edythe Broad Center for Regenerative Medicine
as a catalyst for scientific progress by re-defining what is possible and Stem Cell Research, the Institute of Human Genetics, the Helen
within the laboratory. It is worth recounting that the breakthroughs in Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, and the Cardiovascular
genetic engineering that led to the production of the first recombinant Research Institute at the University of California, San Francisco. Dr
protein and the birth of biotechnology occurred within a decade of the Gruenert has been a pioneer in human airway epithelial cell biology
discovery of the first restriction enzyme. Once again, we are on the cusp and generated some of the first immortalized human airway epithelial
of a paradigm shift in the biological sciences following the discovery cell lines for the study of cystic fibrosis and respiratory disease. He has
of yet another mechanism of prokaryotic immunity; the CRISPR/Cas also pioneered sequence-specific polynucleotide-based genomic DNA
system. A series of landmark publications involving a single enzyme in modification strategies for the correction of disease causing mutations
this system have seen it emerge as an incredibly versatile and powerful and the generation of transgenic animals. His recent work has been
tool capable of manipulating the transcriptome, epigenome and even focused on the development and characterization of induced pluripotent
the genome itself. The rate at which such technology can be adapted stem (iPS) cells and their directed differentiation along lineage-specific
and repurposed by the scientific community is a testament to the power pathways into organ specific progenitors. His background and expertise
of open access resources, and their capacity to facilitate and accelerate will be an integral component of the biomedical mission of JBM.
the exchange of ideas. In this inaugural issue of JBM, we are proud to present a collection
Given the importance of reliable techniques and methodologies in of articles covering a broad range of research topics. The first protocol
advancing scientific research, we are pleased to announce the launch of paper by Madaan et al. presents a simplified, easy-to-follow method
the Journal of Biological Methods (JBM, ISSN 2326-9901), a peer-re- of isolating bone marrow derived dendritic cells up to 80-85% purity
viewed open access journal dedicated to the publication of innovative, [2]. The first research article by Romanov et al. nicely introduces a
cutting-edge methods and techniques across the spectrum of life sciences. noninvasive and sensitive assay for monitoring of renal allograft. By
This journal is an outgrowth of the Protocol Online [1] technical using the technique coamplification at lower denaturation tempera-
resource that was created in 1999 by one of our Editors-in-Chief, ture-PCR (COLD-PCR), the authors propose a cost-effective procedure
Long-Cheng Li. When Dr Li began his postdoctoral research at the for quantitative analysis of donor’s DNA content in the recipient urine,
University of California, San Francisco in 1998; the Internet was still based on the predetermined genetic differences in the mitochondrial
in its infancy, and there were no effective easily accessible resources DNA between the donor and the recipient. This paper has significant
for acquiring reliable protocols for new experimental techniques. Few clinical application and provides proof-of-concept that increased do-
laboratories maintained active websites for sharing resources, and it was nor-derived DNA present urine can serve as a predictive marker for
not until the advent of Internet search engines like Google, that there allograft rejection [3]. The second research paper by Baumann et al.
was a straightforward means of locating those that did. Recognizing the describes an FCS (Fluorescence Correlations Spectroscopy)-based
benefits of such a centralized online resource, Li launched the Protocol method for the measurement of anomalous subdiffusion to study the
Online website in April 1999 as a database of categorized protocols movement of glucocorticoid receptor α (GRα)-GFP in U2OS cells [4].
that would be available through the Internet. Contributions from users Mathematical simulations indicate the capability to separate the spatial
throughout the international academic community gave Protocol On- subdiffusion from temporal subdiffusion as graphically depicted in the
line both depth and breadth as well as the ability to expand rapidly. An cover image for this issue.
interactive open access Q&A board: BioForum was added soon after Finally, our aim is that JBM becomes not only a welcome addition
and has since become an invaluable resource for young scientists as to the scientific literature that makes a significant contribution to the
one of the most active bioscience communities online. Building on advancement of science and technology, but also that it sets a standard
the success of Protocol Online and BioForum, JBM was conceived in for quality and innovation that is in line with the leading journals of
2013 to provide a formal publishing mechanism for scientists with an this arena. To ensure that the journal maintains a high standard of
interest in developing, optimizing or creatively re-purposing techniques scientific acumen, articles will be sent out for peer-review to a group
www.jbmethods.org 1
POL Scientific
of experts in the field relevant to the article as are exemplified by References
the JBM Editorial Board. In addition, there will be regular editorials 1. Website: http://www.protocol-online.org/
highlighting both advances in the field as well as specific articles in a 2. Madaan A, Verma R, Singh AT, Jain SK, Jaggi M (2014) A stepwise procedure
given issue. JBM will also accept proposals for thematic issues that for isolation of murine bone marrow and generation of dendritic cells. J Biol
will be under auspices of a Guest Editor. This is a very intriguing time Methods 1:e1. doi:10.14440/jbm.2014.12.
in the life sciences and JBM provides an exciting opportunity to lay 3. Romanov V, Whyard TC, Waltzer WC, Darras FS (2014) A noninvasive assay for
the foundation for future innovation. monitoring renal allograft status. J Biol Methods 1:e2. doi:10.14440/jbm.2014.19.
We hope that you enjoy reading our inaugural issue. On behalf of 4. Baumann G, Kinjo M, Földes-Papp Z (2014) Anomalous Subdiffusive
the editorial staff and colleagues, we thank you for all your continued Measurements by Fluorescence Correlations Spectroscopy and Simulations of
Translational Diffusive Behavior in Live Cells. J Biol Methods 1:e3. doi:10.14440/
encouragement and support.
jbm.2014.17.
2 www.jbmethods.org
POL Scientific

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Journal of Biological Methods | 2014 | Vol.

Scientific methods – the foundation of science

* Corresponding authors: E-mail: lilc@jbmethods.org or dgruenert@ohns.ucsf.edu

Received March 15, 2014; Published April 3, 2014

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