Molecular Systematics Laboratory

The Molecular Systematics Laboratory contains the latest equipment for high throughput DNA sequencing, including two Applied Biosystems Inc. Prism™ 3730xl automated DNA sequencers, a Biomek NX sequencing robot for automated PCR and sequence purification, three Eppendorf Mastercyclers, two MJ Research Tetrad 4-head and two Dyad MJ Research Thermocyclers for PCR. The combination of the thermocyclers, Biomek robot, and automated sequencers makes it possible for one technician to amplify or sequence several hundred reactions in a day. Each ABI 3730xl sequencer has the capacity (using POP7 polymer) to sequence 12 x 96 (1152) samples per day, and the AMNH molecular lab has two of these machines. The Biomek NX allows the complete automation of PCR purification and sequencing (on 96 well plates), thus saving the technician thousands of pipetting steps, improving accuracy and consistency, freeing the researcher to perform more intellectual tasks. This level of automation gives the laboratory the capacity to perform approximately 8000 sequencing reactions per week. A manager and two scientific assistants are employed for maintaining the laboratory and equipment, ordering supplies, training students and visitors, and generating molecular data.
Besides the abovementioned, the following additional equipment is available in the laboratory: Eppendorf 5810R refrigerated centrifuges (2); Eppendorf Microcentrifuges 5417C and 5415 C; incubators (3); Beckman L-7-65 ultracentrifuge (and rotors); New Brunswick bacterial incubator-shaker; autoclave; glassware washer and dryer; ice machine; US Filter water purification system; AL Scientific -20°C freezer; Kelvinator 4°C undercounter refrigerators (5); Fisher Scientific 4°C undercounter refrigerators (10); Fisher Scientific -20°C undercounter freezers (7); Stratagene UV cross-linker; Kodak MP-4 digital camera system; UV transilluminator and light table; SpeedVac rotary evaporator (3); Taylor-Wharton 38K Cryostorage system; digital gel documentation system processor; PowerMac MacIntosh computers (10); Pentium class PCs (5); Sequencher software licences (4).

The material included in this site is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. 0413453. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.
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