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The solution (of your primers)
As PCR primers become less expensive, is there less care being paid to them? Throw in a diluent,a quick vortex and dilute for PCR?
I hope this doesn't sound too familiar because even in these days of real-time qPCR and various probe chemistries, your PCR primers still reign king in the reaction. Your probe design is not going to determine the efficiency and - usually - the sensitivity of your PCR and qPCR reactions. Therefore its worth paying a little care in looking after your PCR primers - especially if they're being used for a large number of runs and samples.
A gene by any other name
Nothing displays a scientist's sense of humour (typically bone dry and sardonic) like the names they give to genes. This article was prompted by seeing the paper again with my favourite gene name (see later). Some other great names out there: