MCDB Molecular Bioscience Facility

Shared Equipment for Your Needs

The shared molecular equipment rooms are accessed through the LERs (large equipment hallways on the north side of the building).

Note: This equipment is for MCDB and collaborators. It is not a university-wide resource*. See the Biomedical Core Facilities page for links to University core resources.

*EXCEPTION: the Attune flow cytometer is open to the entire university

StepOne™ Plus qPCR (Applied Biosystems)

This system uses a blue LED for excitation, filter wheel, and photodiode for detection. If connection with computer is lost, device functions independently. An error message will occur, but your data will be fine after saving. Software is designed to lead you through the entire PCR process.

7500 Fast RT qPCR (Applied Biosystems)

 7500 Fast RT system uses a halogen light for excitation, a filter wheel, and a CCD for detection. The software is functionally the same as that on the StepOne Plus system, although the file types are incompatible.

CFX Connect qPCR system (BioRad)

System offers two-target analysis, 450-58nm LED excitation and filtered photodiode detection, and Peltier temperature control. Requires different culture plates from StepOne Plus and 7500 Fast qPCR systems.

Eppendorf D30 Biophotometer

UV/Vis biophotometer using fixed wavelengths of 230, 260, 280, 320, 340, 405, 490, 562, 595, and 600nm.

QuBit 2.0 Fluorometer

Will quantify DNA, RNA, and protein if using the correct kits. Qubit® Fluorometric Quantitation only measures the molecule of interest, so the number is almost always lower than the A260 reading. Requires only a few minutes. Use thin wall PCR tubes only, and 1-20uL of DNA sample. Double strand high sensitivity, double strand low sensitivity, and single strand DNA. Screen leads you through protocol. 

Nanodrop Lite spectrophotometer

Uses UV absorbance, which means it cannot distinguish between DNA, RNA, free nucleotides, and other contaminants. Uses 1-2uL of sample.

Pipet Puller

Sutter Instruments device for flaming/brown pipet pulling.

Covaris M220 Focused Ultrasonicator

Designed for next generation sequencing applications that require high quality DNA fragmentation. Focuses the minimum amount of energy directly into sample, enabling precise control of the hydrodynamic shearing forces that fragment nucleic acids to the selected size. The process is isothermal, so fragmentation is unbiased, the sample undamaged, and yields are high. Quiet and fast (80 second) operation. Requires custom tubes.

GE Typhoon Phosphor Imaging System

Detects activity from radiochemicals, x-rays, and UV using a phosphor screen. (Not for chemilluminescence or tritium, which emit their own light.) Use on wet gels, TLC plates (Keep it clean!), and membranes. Metal stage available to accommodate high sensitivity, magnetic phosphor screens and glass stage available for legacy phosphor screens. Erase phosphor screens using light box.

Tecan Microplate Reader Infinite M200 (Fluorometer)

Images using a quad-4 monochromator system to provide two excitation and two emission ranges. Plate formats 6-384, PCR plates, or cuvettes. Photon counting system with low dark current, using a silicon, photodiode PMT.

Tecan Microplate Reader Infinite F200 (Fluorometer)

 Uses dichroic based absorbance or fluorescence filters. Plate formats 6-384, PCR plates, or cuvettes. Photon counting system with low dark current, using a silicon, photodiode PMT.

Tecan Microplate Reader Infinite F200 (Fluorometer) with CO2 and Oxygen Gas Regulator

Uses dichroic based absorbance or fluorescence filters. Plate formats 6-384, PCR plates, or cuvettes. Photon counting system with low dark current, using a silicon, photodiode PMT.

VerTis Lyophilizer

4L capacity, -105C Chiller, low maintenance, dry, scroll pump.

LiCor Odyssey CLx infrared imager

700 & 800nm channel detection (685 & 785nm lasers). Detects fluorescent protein markers at quantifiable sensitivity for western blot analysis, EMSA, protein assays, In-Cell western™ assays, On-Cell westerns, in vivo imaging, Coomassie gel documentation, DNA gel documentation, and tissue section analysis. 

LiCor Odyssey Fc gel and membrane imager

Captures luminescence, UV, and brightfield gel and membrane images. Detects 685 & 785nm LED  fluorescence protein markers at qualitative sensitivity for western blot analysis, EMSA, protein assays, In-Cell western™ assays, On-Cell westerns, in vivo imaging, Coomassie gel documentation, and DNA gel documentation.

Attune NXT 4-laser Flow Cytometer System

This Attune NXT flow cytometer is appointed with 4 lasers (405, 488, 561, and 637nm), up to 16 detection channels (depending on your color overlap), and the capacity to run 384 or 96 well plates with the Cytkick Max autosampler. Accommodates all well types, but round or conical well bases are preferred.