Preparation of high-quality nucleic and protein samples is a critical starting point of most biological experiments. The CBFG maintains a variety of instruments to aid in sample preparation.

Centrifuges

Assorted centrifuges are available for a wide range of vessels and accompanying rotors, including two plate rotor centrifuges for microplates (both standard and deep well) are is available.

PCR Machines

Quantitative polymerase chain reaction or qPCR, as well as reverse transcriptase qPCR (gene expression) RT-qPCR, are important applications supported by the CBFG. For these experiments, we use:

Corbett Rotor-Gene 3000™

Qiagen Rotor-Gene Q 5-Plex HRMplatform

• Capable of using five fluors (simultaneously) as well as High-Resolution Melt applications (taxa ID, epigenetics, mutation scanning)
• Up to 100 samples concurrently

Bio-Rad CFX Connect (96 well)

Thermo Fisher QuantStudio 7 Flex Real-Time PCR System

• 96 or 384 well sample blocks
• 6 colour multiplexing

These instruments are calibrated for most of the fluorophores that are commonly used for qPCR experiments.

• Experimental design is critical to success in qPCR experiments. The CBFG staff provides training and consultation for all aspects of qPCR based on MIQE recommended guidelines, ranging from experimental design and instrument operation to data interpretation and validation to ensure your best results.

Imaging Systems

We have an AlphaInnotechHP imager for nucleic acid, and we have a Bio-Rad ChemiDocMP imager for fluorescence and chemiluminescence detection (four-fold log sensitivity).

epMotion 5073m NGS Liquid Handling Workstation

For automated, high-throughput sample preparation a epMotion 5073m is available. The CBFG staff provides training, consultation, and programming for robotic sample preparations with this system.

Promega Maxwell® 16 System

Generating some of the highest purity nucleic acid isolations, an easy, medium-throughput bead agitation robotic sample preparation Promega Maxwell 16 System is available. This system is ideal for the purification of genomic DNA or RNA from virtually any starting material, is extremely cost-effective, and can process between one and sixteen samples simultaneously.

Spectrophotometers and Fluorospectrometers

We have a UV-VIS Spectrophotometer as well as low volume UV-VIS Nanodrop ND2000 and Fluorescent ND3300 spectrophotometers, in addition to a Qubit4 fluorescent system for the accurate quantification of nucleic acids and/or proteins.

Agilent 2100 Bioanalyzer

Quality control (quantity, size, quality) of DNA, RNA, and Protein samples can be analyzed on our Agilent 2100 Bioanalyzer.

Sage BluePippin

Size-Selection of DNA Fragments (100 bp ~ 50kbp). Accurate, reproducible, high yield recovery of size- selectable DNA fragments. Primarily for use in NGS applications (both short-read (Illumina) and long-read (PacBio)). This instrument significantly improves genome assemblies and transcriptome completeness.

Covaris M220 Ultrasonicator

Can be used for cell lysis: mammalian, bacterial, yeast; cfDNA Extraction from Plasma, DNA Extraction from Dried Blood Spots, DNA/RNA/Chromatin Shearing, DNA/RNA/Total NA/Protein Extraction from FFPE, Tissue lysis, and extraction. Completely user-size selectable fragments using a Peltier-controlled ultrasonication chamber.