Design of experiments
A well designed study has improved chances to show significant results. A good design in this context means that the samples included in the experiments should be representative. This means include all the features, and all possible variations that we would like to study. Further, it is also important to have enough number of samples to be able to draw significant conclusions, especially if there are a lot of variations in data that we can not control, which is often the case when handling biological samples.
Further, design of experiments is to prefer in optimisation of the laboratory work. This means varying several experimental parameters simultaneously in a systematic way, which enables calculation of a model of the system. From this model it is then possible to predict optimal experimental conditions. Generally, this will lead to a laboratory procedure and an instrumental setup better than if it was chosen by “trial and error”.
Design of experiments is a way of thinking that is practiced to the largest possible extent in the projects at KBC. Some more basic theory about this is found here.
