![]() ![]() However, authors are always welcome to resubmit once these experiments are repeated or if the original image files are retrieved. In cases where raw, unedited images cannot be provided, the manuscript will be withdrawn as this data is not considered to be reproducible. It is also important to declare any membrane splicing to clarify cases where a full-length Western Blot image is not provided. It is important that authors label these image files correctly, according to the nucleic acid or protein of interest and that these are aligned with the images presented in the manuscript. More information can be found in our author guidelines. The commonly accepted file type is TIF, however, TIFF and JPEG are also accepted. ![]() When conducting quality checks on manuscripts containing cropped gel and Western Blot images, we ask authors to provide their raw and originally saved image files for evaluation. As a member of the Committee on Publication Ethics, we also apply the appropriate guidelines and policies to ensure that cropped gel and Western Blot images do not contain manipulated features, which ultimately, would change the conclusion of the article. This is achieved in collaboration with our assigned Editors who provide insight, using their specific expertise to help guarantee the scientific integrity and quality of Frontiers journals. In the Frontiers Research Integrity department, we ensure that published images maintain strong scientific integrity. It is best practice to save un-edited, originally captured image files so they are available to share upon request. Such cases are of concern when cropping the captured gel or Western Blot image changes the scientific inferences made from the image. This can occur when parts of the image, such as specific bands or lanes are cropped, extracted, and then pasted onto another area of the image. In cases where duplicated features are detected or inappropriate editing is applied, red flags are raised about the integrity of the image. Gel and Western Blot cropping can be problematic. Below is an example of a full length, unedited original Western Blot image:įigure 3: Acceptable Western Blot membrane cropping Once complete, a digital image is then captured and saved to present later on, often in a manuscript. For Western Blot experiments, the separated proteins are then transferred onto a nitrocellulose or PVDF membrane for further preparation with antibodies specific to the proteins of interest and finally analyzed in a special imaging machine. Both of these experiments involve preparing the samples in question, followed by gel electrophoresis. The experiments might detect the protein being expressed in cancer cells, but not healthy cells and vice versa, helping researchers to understand the disease further. For example, if researchers investigating pancreatic cancer suspect a particular protein might be involved in the disease, a series of Western Blot experiments could help to compare the expression of the protein in both cancer cells and normal healthy cells. Gels are often used for studying nucleic acids while Western Blots are used to visualize and study proteins. Gels and Western Blots are used in molecular biology laboratories to identify and analyze macromolecules such as nucleic acids and proteins in a sample. But from time to time, we do encounter issues. It is important, then, that authors submit figures correctly and to the standards expected of quality scientific literature. Figures and images are a key component of many research papers. In this blog, we take a closer look at gel and Western Blot image cropping. Since last year, the Frontiers Research Integrity team has followed up on more than 4,000 manuscripts containing cropped gel and Western Blot images which required additional scrutiny. Author: Bushra Khair, Research Integrity Specialist ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |