Journal article

Proper experimental design requires randomization/balancing of molecular ecology experiments


Authors listBálint, M; Márton, O; Schatz, M; Düring, RA; Grossart, HP

Publication year2018

Pages1786-1793

JournalEcology and Evolution

Volume number8

Issue number3

ISSN2045-7758

DOI Linkhttps://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.3687

PublisherWiley


Abstract
Properly designed (randomized and/or balanced) experiments are standard in ecological research. Molecular methods are increasingly used in ecology, but studies generally do not report the detailed design of sample processing in the laboratory. This may strongly influence the interpretability of results if the laboratory procedures do not account for the confounding effects of unexpected laboratory events. We demonstrate this with a simple experiment where unexpected differences in laboratory processing of samples would have biased results if randomization in DNA extraction and PCR steps do not provide safeguards. We emphasize the need for proper experimental design and reporting of the laboratory phase of molecular ecology research to ensure the reliability and interpretability of results.



Citation Styles

Harvard Citation styleBálint, M., Márton, O., Schatz, M., Düring, R. and Grossart, H. (2018) Proper experimental design requires randomization/balancing of molecular ecology experiments, Ecology and Evolution, 8(3), pp. 1786-1793. https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.3687

APA Citation styleBálint, M., Márton, O., Schatz, M., Düring, R., & Grossart, H. (2018). Proper experimental design requires randomization/balancing of molecular ecology experiments. Ecology and Evolution. 8(3), 1786-1793. https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.3687


Last updated on 2025-21-05 at 16:56