Microbes are tiny, yet their importance for research, health, and the environment is enormous. They include bacteria, certain fungi, and other microscopic organisms. In the lab, we encounter them in many fields, ranging from classical microbiology to molecular biology and microbiome research.
This month’s “Term of the Month,” “microbe,” is briefly leaving the lab and making its way into the kitchen.
To celebrate, we’re giving away 10 Microbe cookie cutters from Zymo Research. And since a cookie cutter is only half as much fun without a recipe, we’ve chosen a simple shortbread recipe that fits right in with Austrian Christmas baking traditions.
Ingredients:
Instructions:
The microbes in the lab are, of course, somewhat more complex than their sweet relatives on the baking sheet.
Whether individual microorganisms are being studied or entire microbial communities are being characterized, reliable sample preparation is the foundation for meaningful results. DNA and RNA isolation, microbial lysis, sequencing, and microbiome analyses are just a few of the workflows that focus on microorganisms.
This is exactly where Zymo Research comes in: The company develops solutions for DNA and RNA purification as well as for microbiological and microbiome workflows. This brings us full circle from the Microbe Cookie Cutter back to the lab.
In the lab, the rule is: Avoid contamination.
We’re happy to make an exception for these microbes. 🍪
We’re giving away 10 Microbe Cookie Cutters from Zymo Research for a little experiment outside the lab.
Good luck in the giveaway, and have fun baking, cutting out cookies, and experimenting!