Superstition


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Admit it: you have a “lucky” PCR machine, don’t you? 

As any experimental biologist can tell you, working at the bench has a strong element of tradition and muscle knowledge. If I’m running a Western blot or pouring a gel, I’ll probably do it a certain way, because that’s the way I was taught, back when I was a fresh-faced young undergraduate, and it’s always worked for me. If the reviewers are happy, I’m happy. But is this the best a scientist can do? Could bench practice be more rational?