OUR APPROACH

Independent by design.

A clear map of biological reagents, built around what they do.

The science is the structure.

SciBranch uses a functional hierarchy: biological domain, workflow, reagent type, narrower experimental requirements, then candidate substitution group and product. It is inspired by the readability of a branching tree, not a claim of evolutionary relationships. Each product has a primary category and can appear in additional supported application groups. Pack sizes remain attached to the corresponding product record.

A starting portfolio, not a preferred supplier.

The supplied NEB and Zymo catalogs define the starting scope. Coverage is tracked separately for every supplied catalog number. Broad branches follow biological function. Proprietary component requirements remain visible where compatibility depends on a specific formulation. Products are ordered alphabetically, with no sponsored placements or paid ranking.

The initial inventory is still heavily weighted toward this source. A neutral taxonomy does not mean equal supplier coverage. Cross-manufacturer coverage varies by category and is shown explicitly. We do not claim to index the entire reagent market.

How alternatives are selected.

Final groups aim to contain products that could substitute for each other under defined experimental conditions. Currently they are candidate groups, not scientifically validated interchangeability claims. Products with unspecified critical characteristics are excluded from substitution recommendations. For restriction enzymes, manufacturer-documented name relationships appear separately under related options. They do not automatically establish substitution compatibility. An enzyme with a related name or recognition sequence can still differ in cleavage position, methylation sensitivity and reaction conditions.

Category matches are not validated replacements. Kit components, enzyme variants, substrate specificity, unit definitions and experimental conditions must be checked before switching. Broader supplier resources are labeled as discovery links, not verified alternatives.

Sources and missing data.

NEB records come from the supplied catalog dated 6 November 2026. Source documents and row-level extracts are withheld. The coverage page shows aggregate completeness and public manufacturer evidence. RT comparison records retain their original documentation alongside subsequently observed manufacturer product links. Exact historical product-page gaps are listed in the coverage report. Additional records link to manufacturer documentation found during this build.

Missing specifications remain explicitly unavailable. We do not infer performance from marketing names.

Researcher reviews.

Sign-in and a researcher profile are required to publish a review. Each person can maintain one rating per product, edit it or delete it. Public reviews display the chosen name, affiliation, application, rating and review text. Email addresses are not displayed. Ratings reflect reported experience and are not verified purchase or independent validation scores.

Coverage is auditable.

Complete mapping means every supplied row has a category and product destination. It does not mean every classification has been scientifically curated or that every product has a verified cross-manufacturer replacement.