Editorials in 2011

The ability to introduce targeted, tailored changes into the genomes of several species will make it feasible to ask more precise biological questions.

Young scientists must learn not just how to use a kit, but how it works.

Verifying automated analysis methods via ground-truth data remains an essential step of algorithm development. But as datasets increase in size and complexity, this classical test is often insufficient. Integrated editing tools can help.

Commercialization of academic research is increasing and provides important benefits, but it remains difficult, and recent developments bring new challenges.

As more mouse models are produced, researchers studying neuropsychiatric diseases will need better ways to evaluate them and more realistic assessment of the results.

The year 2011 has been designated the International Year of Chemistry. Nature Methods joins in the celebration with a special feature in this issue.

Acronyms that refer to methods are often useful but not always appropriate. Here are some guidelines.

Improving search tools for NIH grants will increase the transparency of US government–sponsored research and aid those seeking funding.

In an era of stagnant funding, comparative analyses of methods and tool performance can help researchers do more with less.

Meeting organizers and speakers are increasingly open to blogging and microblogging—an encouraging trend that should be expanded with clearly defined restrictions.

In spite of its promise, nanotechnology has seen little uptake among biologists. DNA origami may be able to avoid this fate.

For the development, application and dissemination of high-impact methods, interdisciplinary collaboration between experts is vital.