App Reviews

app review

CloningBench

By: Thermo Fisher Scientific https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/cloningbench-calculators-tools/ id458617777?mt=8

Will new Liberal government mean a more science-friendly regime?

On November 4, Canada’s new Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau officially took office after winning a Liberal majority. One of his first acts was to make reforms to the way Canada approaches science.

For starters, Canada is now a country with two science ministers. As part of his new cabinet, Mr. Trudeau reestablished the minister of science posting appointing Kirsty Duncan, a medical geographer from the University of Toronto to the role, and naming Navdeep Bains as the new Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development.

According to the new administration, Duncan’s Ministry will cater to the interests of “basic” science researchers, while Bains’ Ministry will focus on “applied” research. That’s not to say that the two will be working in silos, but rather, the hope is that they will compliment each other’s efforts.

Moreover, after nearly a decade where the Prime Minister’s Office had exercised tight control over the release of information by Canadian scientists, these two new Ministries have already gone on record to promise this will not be the case under their watch.

“Our government values science values science and will treat scientists with respect….that is why government scientists and experts will be able to speak freely about their work to the media and the public” said new science and innovation Minister Navdeep Bains in a statement to the Toronto Star.

Early indications are the appointments are being embraced by Canada’s scientific community who see the moves as positive change, smoothing over strained relations between the previous government and scientists across the country.

There is also a feeling of cautious optimism, amongst them, and hope that more reform is on the horizon, including the reinstatement of a science commissioner or chief science officer of Canada. Harper’s government had phased out the position in 2008, replacing it with the Science, Technology and Innovation Council. It’s hard to say for certain which approach is the right one, but perhaps a mingling of the two would suffice.

Overall, the new government seems to be saying and doing all the right things when it comes to the best interests of scientists. In theory, the moves appear positive, but how it will all work in practice, we’ll soon find out. Clean and stylish, this app will guide you through all laboratory cloning experiments. Equipped with nine different tools and calculators, CloningBench features everything from bacterial growth timers to PCR mastermixes. Users can calculate nucleic acid concentrations, molar quantities and vector to insert molar ratios. Finding correct buffers and concentrations has never been easier than with the Double Digest Finder, while the Competent Cell Selection Guide makes finding the perfect cell a seamless experience. Although the app is stubbornly stuck in portrait mode and only available for Apple products, it clearly comes loaded with enticing features – the only way to discover them all is to make the free download.

The Chemical Touch

By: Christopher Fennell https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/the-chemical-touch/ id288060442?mt=8

It’s not a pop song or a murder-mystery paperback: it’s an app centered on the periodic table and the individual elements that make it up. Although not a particularly fresh or innovative concept, the app holds more than what first meets the eye. Users can take the table into their own hands, recoloring the categories to correspond to density, boiling point or electronegativity. Tapping a discrete icon at the top left of the screen opens a new portal of information, divided into five categories: isotopes, reduction potentials, ionization energies, x-ray absorption/emission and general properties. Should users desire more information, an internet button opens up to each element’s respective Wikipedia page. Before going in for the download, however, users should be aware of the $0.99 price tag – a small fee, but a fee nevertheless.