Which eight escaped the Scientific 16?
The Journal of Biological Chemistry’s Methods Madness tournament started off with a bang as last year’s finalist, #TeamMassSpec, faced off against the tournament newcomer #TeamFRET. #TeamFRET fought valiantly, but their supporters’ energy just didn’t transfer into votes. Meanwhile, #TeamMassSpec supporters turned up in SPECTRAcular numbers, pushing their team to the next round.

X-ray crystallographers around the world are rejoicing after #TeamXRC’s victory over #TeamImmuno. Votes proved to be too nonspecific for #TeamImmuno, whose supporters were unable to band together to provide support for their team. #TeamXRC advances to the next round while #TeamImmuno fades into the background.

#TeamCryo iced their competition, leaving #TeamMachine frozen in their tracks. Despite strategic support from #TeamMassSpec, it seems too many #TeamMachine supporters had their heads in the cloud, because they couldn’t find the algorithm needed to execute a win against the defending champion. #TeamCryo will move on to the Energetic Eight, where they will have a tough matchup against #TeamCRISPR.

In this cellular showdown, #TeamiPSC lacked the factors necessary to differentiate from the other losers of the week. In contrast, #TeamLiveCell was unphased by the pressure, shining bright in the win they captured. #TeamLiveCell has #TeamOmics in their frame as they focus on the next round.

#TeamPCR copied last year’s success to defeat #TeamChroma and advance to the next round. Supporters of #TeamChroma couldn’t match the flow rate of #TeamPCR voters, leaving #TeamChroma stuck in a stationary phase while their opponent mobilized. #TeamPCR will look to amplify their success with a win over #TeamMassSpec in the next round.

Resonating with their supporters, #TeamNMR put forth a dynamic performance to secure their second #JBCMethodsMadness win in as many years. Living up to their name, #TeamCloning replicated last year’s performance where they also lost against #TeamNMR in the first round. Perhaps they’ll find the winning recombination next year!

#TeamCRISPR excised #TeamSuperRes in the first round of the tournament and will move on to the next round. Despite their resolution to make it further this year, the win that #TeamSuperRes pictured was never fully deconvolved. #TeamCRISPR has their work cut out for them, facing off against the defending champion #TeamCryo.

Seq-ing a win in their tournament debut, #TeamOmics analyzed their competition and came out victorious. Seemingly unable to shed light on a winning formula, #TeamOpto failed to excite their supporters, resulting in their second tournament loss in as many years. Next, #TeamOmics will match up against #TeamLiveCell in the Energetic Eight round.

Round 2: The Energetic Eight
Monday, March 22
12 p.m. Eastern – #TeamNMR vs. #TeamXRC
Tuesday, March 23
12 p.m. Eastern – #TeamPCR vs. #TeamMassSpec
Wednesday, March 24
12 p.m. – #TeamLiveCell vs. #TeamOmics
Thursday, March 25
12 p.m. – #TeamCryo vs. #TeamCRISPR
Enjoy reading ASBMB Today?
Become a member to receive the print edition monthly and the digital edition weekly.
Learn moreGet the latest from ASBMB Today
Enter your email address, and we’ll send you a weekly email with recent articles, interviews and more.
Latest in Science
Science highlights or most popular articles

‘Inert’ ingredients in pesticides may be more toxic to bees than scientists thought
Pesticide users sometimes know very little about how inerts function. That’s partly because they are regulated very differently than active ingredients.

FDA approves CRISPR–Cas9 therapy for sickle cell disease
The gene editing treatment from Vertex Pharmaceuticals and CRISPR Therapeutics is the first of its kind

From the journals: MCP
Metals contaminate protein samples. Lipid droplets go haywire in Huntington’s. Nerve cells respond to stimulation. Read about these recent papers.

The perfect storm
The world has 2023 Nobel laureates Katalin Karikó, Drew Weissman and others to thank for laying a foundation for the COVID-19 vaccine decades before the pandemic.

Throw your hat in the ring!
Apply to speak at Discover BMB in Chicago in 2025.

How bacteria inhibit gene expression
Researchers show how altering activity of the transcription factor CarD can cause downregulation and upregulation of some genes.