Whenever you pour yourself a glass of water, it may appear to be clean and you might expect the water quality to be safe. However, many sources of water contain dissolved minerals, organic compounds, or live pathogens at harmful levels. Other minerals in your water could also result in an unpleasant taste, odors, and could stain bathroom fixtures or your...

The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique, used to amplify or “copy” small segments of DNA, is highly sensitive - and that’s a good thing. PCR is a widely used and inexpensive technique used in medical diagnostics, forensic analysis of DNA, and genomic research. Unfortunately, this sensitivity leaves PCR vulnerable to nucleic acid contamination: even trace amounts of DNA can be...