HIV, superbugs, and standards—oh my! In this episode of Absolute Gene-ius, we explore the frontier of infectious disease research with Dr. Jesús Mingorance, researcher at Hospital Universitario La Paz in Madrid. His research is translational and uses digital PCR, qPCR, sequencing, and more.

Dr. Mingorance walks us through his application of ultra-sensitive PCR methods to track HIV-2 viral loads—particularly in challenging cases where standard assays fall short. He shares how digital PCR enabled detection in samples where conventional tests failed, and how it's becoming essential for assay calibration and microbial quantification. He also dives into the endemic challenges of carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae in hospitals, revealing the clinical and epidemiological importance of quantifying pathogen load within the microbiome.

In the career corner, Dr. Mingorance recounts his unconventional journey—from humanities student to biologist inspired by a single sentence about DNA. With humor and honesty, he reflects on the patience needed in science, the value of good questions, and the importance of mentoring new scientists. “Biology is beautiful,” he reminds us. We agree.

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Can you detect Alzheimer’s with a spit sample? That’s the question driving Arianna Arbona’s exciting research at Universidad Pablo de Olavide in Sevilla, Spain. In this episode of Absolute Gene-ius, she shares how she’s isolating microvesicles from saliva and blood to identify early biomarkers for neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s—an effort that could one day lead to minimally invasive diagnostic tools.

Arianna describes the scientific and technical hurdles she’s overcoming, from low vesicle concentrations to validating the brain-specific origin of those vesicles. She also reflects on her previous lupus research, where digital PCR enabled detection of faint mRNA signatures that qPCR missed—making it an essential tool for rare target quantification. Her future plans include integrating immuno-PCR and multiplex assays for more sensitive and multi-marker detection in Alzheimer’s and beyond.

In the career corner, Arianna recounts her journey from the Canary Islands to Helsinki to Sevilla, balancing passion, mentorship, and a healthy sense of humor. She talks about working through uncertainty after her master’s degree, the mentors who kept her smiling, and how an early accidents taught her resilience. Her message to aspiring scientists: follow your curiosity and don’t be afraid to change direction.

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This episode of Absolute Gene-ius slithers into the surprising science of invasive species monitoring with Dr. Brian Bahder. A childhood love of bugs led Brian to a dynamic career in entomology and plant pathology—and eventually to tracking large reptiles in the swamps of Florida.

We dive deep into Brian’s work developing multiplex digital PCR assays to detect DNA from snakes, caimans, and other invasive species using environmental samples like soil and water. He explains how this technology enables detection even after the animals are gone, and how sampling strategy, environmental variables, and experimental design are critical to getting reliable data. He also compares qPCR and digital PCR, emphasizing how each has its place depending on sensitivity, speed, and sample complexity.

In the career corner, Brian shares how his academic journey was shaped by travel, risk-taking, and a healthy dose of failure. From surfing and skateboarding to discovering new species and running a diagnostic clinic, his path reminds us that science thrives on curiosity—and that even mistakenly detecting your own DNA can teach you something.

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Ever thought about why medications work differently for different people? In this episode of Absolute Gene-ius, we explore the exciting field of pharmacogenomics with Wendy Wang, pharmacogenetic laboratory supervisor at Children's Mercy Hospital in Kansas City. Wendy shares how genetics can influence drug metabolism, offering a glimpse into how precision medicine can revolutionize healthcare by tailoring treatments based on an individual's unique genetic makeup.

At the heart of Wendy’s research is CYP2D6, a cytochrome P450 enzyme responsible for metabolizing around 20% of all prescribed medications. She explains how her lab uses digital PCR to analyze copy number variations (CNV), offering a reliable and precise method to predict drug metabolism. Wendy dives into the complexities of structural variants, the role of digital PCR in enhancing assay efficiency, and why pharmacogenomics is a critical piece of the precision medicine puzzle. Her use of delightful metaphors—like comparing genetic testing to ladling soup—makes complex science both relatable and engaging.

In the Career Corner, Wendy opens up about her winding path to molecular biology, which included studying classical antiquity and nearly pursuing a career in history. She emphasizes the importance of resilience in research, embracing failure as a learning opportunity, and encourages budding scientists to reach out to mentors and explore diverse interests. Plus, hear about her most embarrassing lab mishap (hint: it involves a fire alarm) and the proud moment of publishing her first, first-author paper.

Visit the Absolute Gene-ius page to learn more about the guests, the hosts, and the Applied Biosystems QuantStudio Absolute Q Digital PCR System.

Scientific discovery happens in the lab—but it starts with curiosity and determination. In this episode of Absolute Gene-ius, we welcome Valeria Rangel, a PhD candidate at the University of California Irvine, who shares her research on acute lymphoblastic leukemia and the innovative ways digital PCR is helping uncover genetic patterns linked to cancer in Hispanic populations.

Val’s work focuses on Philadelphia chromosome-like (Ph-like) B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia, a rare and aggressive form of cancer. She explains how her lab uses digital PCR to detect mutations with high precision, identify risk factors in certain populations, and even validate findings using CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing. Through her research, Val sheds light on the role of SNPs, methylation patterns, and translocations in leukemia progression—demonstrating how digital PCR is transforming the way we approach cancer research.

Beyond the science, Val takes us on her personal journey, from struggling to break into research due to financial barriers to finding her passion in oncology. In this episode’s Career Corner, she shares valuable advice for aspiring scientists, tips for landing research opportunities, and some of her most hilarious and humbling lab moments (yes, she has broken multiple pipettes).

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In this episode of Absolute Gene-ius, Dr. C. Dustin Rubinstein takes us inside the world of advanced genome editing, where cutting-edge tools like CRISPR and digital PCR are helping shape the future of biomedical research.

As the Director of the Advanced Genome Editing Laboratory at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Dr. Rubinstein shares how his lab develops genetically engineered pig models to study diseases like neurofibromatosis and cancer, providing researchers with more clinically relevant models than traditional small animals. He explains how digital PCR plays a crucial role in confirming genome edits with absolute precision, eliminating the ambiguity that often comes with qPCR and sequencing alone. The discussion dives into the advantages of dPCR for copy number variation analysis and gene editing confirmation, emphasizing the importance of multiple complementary technologies in modern molecular biology.

Beyond the science, Dr. Rubinstein reflects on his career path, the value of mentors, and the unpredictable nature of scientific discovery. He also joins in on some lighthearted lab humor and shares his most embarrassing (and proudest) moments in research. Tune in for an insightful and entertaining look at the intersection of gene editing, career evolution, and the future of molecular biology.

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Season 2 of Absolute Gene-ius comes to a close with a look back at the topics and inspiring conversations that have defined the series. From exploring innovative uses of digital PCR to uncovering its synergy with other molecular tools, this season was packed with insights for scientists at all levels.

Dive into the details as co-hosts Jordan Ruggieri and Christina Bouwens revisit memorable episodes, including using dPCR as a low-cost precursor to single-cell sequencing and its role in quantifying active mRNA in groundbreaking drug development. Hear from experts like Parker Wilson, Christian Cobaugh, and Raquel Munoz, who share how digital PCR is revolutionizing their workflows and complementing other tools like qPCR and NGS.

Of course, it wouldn’t be Absolute Gene-ius without a few puns! Stick around for some lighthearted banter as Jordan and Christina celebrate the season’s success, share their favorite moments, and hint at what’s coming in Season 3. Stay curious, and we’ll see you next cycle!

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The statistics of Poisson distributions can seem complex at first but are simpler than you think, which is important to know given their relevance to digital PCR. In short, they dictate the confidence you can have in the absolute quantification provided by dPCR.

Dr. Dave Bauer, Thermo Fisher Scientific’s very own dPCR Product Applications Specialist and statistics whiz, joins us once again for this short-but-sweet episode that’s a must hear for those working with rare, or low-abundance PCR targets. Dave and the hosts talk about applications like cancer research where these types of samples are common, and then get into the details of how the Applied Biosystems QuantStudio Absolute Q Digital PCR System works to provide elegantly simple technologies like false positive rejection, background subtraction, low dead volume microfluidic array plates, and a master mix with chamber loading dye. Join us to learn what each of these are all about and how they help to provide confidence and reliability in results that matter for your precious samples.

Visit the Absolute Gene-ius pageto learn more about the guests, the hosts, and the Applied Biosystems QuantStudio Absolute Q Digital PCR System.