Lab frame
Our lab presents three interconnected rooms, arranged by specific work stages, in order to ensure a continuous flow in the laboratory from raw samples to data and to avoid sample cross contamination. The lab chambers and and their specific activities are listed below:
- Extraction chamber: sample preparation and nucleic acids extraction steps;
- PCR chamber: gene amplification and electrophoresis steps;
- Sequencing and data analysis chamber: sequencing, gene expression quantification and raw data analysis.
Equipments
Automated Nucleic Acid Purification
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Maxwell® 16 Research Instrument The Maxwell® 16 Research Instrument allows easy, low- to moderate-throughput automated purification of genomic DNA, total RNA or polyhistidine-tagged protein from a variety of sample types. The instrument is supplied with preprogrammed automated purification methods and is designed for use with prefilled reagent cartridges, maximizing simplicity and convenience (Promega Corporation). |
PCR thermal cyclers
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Hybaid PX2 thermal cycler The Px2 thermal cycler is an advanced personal gradient option PCR machine. It is offered with a choice of six interchangeable blocks (ordered separately below), including the latest gradient cycling format. The newest gradient block features outstanding well-to-well uniformity ensure reproducible results when conditions are transferred to standard protocols. Thermal gradient blocks are available in 0.2 mL and 0.5 mL formats (Thermo Scientific).
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Corbett Palm-Cycler Combining robust engineering, advanced performance and a palmtop PC interface for supreme user-friendly flexibility. Active-cooled block (range 4°C to 99°C); 8 Peltiers and 4 platinum sensors; True linear gradient capability (1°C to 24°C); Intuitive Palm computer interface; Easy programming and backup; Advanced cycling options (Touchdown, Long Range, Ramp Rate, Hold Lis,t etc); Advanced functions (graphing interface, auto-calibration, oligo calculator etc); Built tough to last (Qiagen Company).
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Labcycler The Labcycler has a processor controlled block with separately controlled peltier elements for extraordinary temperature homogeneity at high heating and cooling rates. State-of-the-art peltier elements have demonstrated more than 600000 cycles so far without any failures. This gives more than 15 years of lifetime even under the most demanding conditions, like DNA-sequencing on a daily basis. The TFT touch screen in combination with the self-explanatory software is easy to use (SensoQuest GmbH).
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Gel electrophoresis systems
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HU10W Wide Format Mini-Plus Horizontal Mini-plus wide format horizontal gel unit with removable casting tray, including casting gates with integral silicone seals, 2 x 1mm thick, 20-sample combs and coloured loading strips (Scie-Plas Ltd.).
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Sigma E0680 horizontal gel electrophoresis system This is the smallest unit in the range, designed for the researcher with low to medium numbers of samples. Unit includes 7 x 7 cm and 7 x 10 cm UV Tray, 2 x 8 sample, 1 mm thick combs, casting dams, and loading guides. The small gel size maximizes run economy but does not compromise versatility as two tray options are included. The combs range from preparative up to 16 samples. Simply by altering the gel tray or comb, this compact unit is capable of resolving up to 48 different samples, prepping 1 mL of sample or separating sample bands over a distance of 9 cm (Sigma-Aldrich Co. LLC.). |
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Sub-Cell GT Cell The Sub-Cell GT cell is the most versatile submerged horizontal electrophoresis cell in the Sub-Cell family. Because the Sub-Cell GT cell offers the greatest choice of gel lengths, sample combs, and separation modes, it is ideal for Southern and northern blotting protocols. Up to 30 samples can be resolved over a distance of 25 cm. Using four rows of combs, the cell will run up to 120 analytical samples (Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc.).
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Real-time PCR cycler
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Rotor-Gene RG-6000 The Rotor-Gene 6000 is a third-generation real-time rotary analyzer. Its unique centrifugal format was designed specifically for the demanding requirements of real-time cycling and thermo-optical analyses. The rotary design provides unparalleled well-to-well thermal and optical uniformity—critical factors in real-time analysis. Its also enables a fast data acquisition rate, a feature now proving to be essential for advanced applications such as HRM (high-resolution melt). |
Genetic Analysis System
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CEQ8000 Genetic Analysis System The CEQ™ 8000 Genetic Analysis System is a fully automated, high-throughput sequencing and genotyping/fragment analysis systems. Capillary electrophoresis technology and laser-induced fluorescence detection have been combined to provide a very easy-to-use microplate-based system. The CEQ 8000 is designed to handle all aspects of the DNA analysis process from sample denaturation through automatic base- or allele-calling, with no user intervention, following an easy 2-minute setup. In a single setup with one gel and one capillary array within the same plate, short templates are sequenced rapidly, long templates are sequenced faster with high quality reads, DNA fragments are sized accurately and precisely, and analyzed quantitatively with high sensitivity and reproducibility. The CEQ control and analysis software uses the Windows 2000 operating system, providing you with all the benefits of data security, stable network access, and automated data qualification/filtering, normalization, quanti- tation, analysis and result exportation. Virtually all DNA analysis functions, from automated base-calling to allele identification, are accomplished using one software package on a single platform, simplifying data analysis and interpretation (Beckman Coulter, Inc.). |