The image emphasizes that some of our analytical devices used in our experimental routines are aesthetically and artistically beautiful. The qPCR machine photographed, for example, has a remarkably curvy and angular futuristic design. The colourful liquids in the rotor of the machine represent the fluorescent dyes used in qPCR. The image shows a real-time polymerase chain reaction cycler, a device used in real-time PCR (polymerase chain reaction), a powerful molecular biology technique used to amplify and quantify specific DNA sequences in real time. This technique is suitable for a wide range of applications such as gene expression studies, pathogen identification and genetic analysis. The technique is based on the use of fluorescent dyes that binds to DNA or fluorescently labelled sequence specific probes. Fluorescence is measured in real time during each cycle and is proportional to the amount of PCR product amplified. As the PCR reaction proceeds, the polymerase enzyme amplifies the target DNA and the fluorescent dye (SYBR Green) binds to the newly synthesized DNA strands, resulting in an increase in fluorescence intensity. This fluorescence signal is continuously monitored and measured by the real-time PCR cycler. For our research, the real-time PCR cycler is used to compare gene expression of tight junction proteins, that regulate paracellular transport, in biopsies of young adults and older adults.