$sth = $dbh->prepare (qq{
                                SELECT * FROM plate WHERE genomic_dna_
+id LIKE ?
                        });

         $sth->execute ("%" . $plate . "%");
#
# you need to fetch the first results from this
# execute before you do the next execute or they
# will get lost!
#

       $sth = $dbh->prepare (qq{
                               SELECT * FROM plate WHERE plate_id LIKE
+ ?
                       });


        $sth->execute ("%" . $plate . "%");

#
# or you could possibly do this and fetch both sets
# at the same time.
#

       $sth = $dbh->prepare (qq{
             SELECT * FROM plate WHERE plate_id LIKE ? OR genomic_dna_
+id LIKE ?
                       });


        $sth->execute ("%" . $plate . "%","%" . $plate . "%");
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