Instrumentation and facilities

An Illumina MiSeq is available for use at the Genetics Core Facility. Users submit samples and the Genetics Core Facility staff operate the sequencer. A MiSeq run generates between 10-25 million sequences per run in 25-300 base read lengths depending on the selected run mode. Sequencing can be performed in single direction or paired-end configurations. Overlapping paired-end reads can easily be joined for end-user analysis.

An Applied Biosystems 3730xl (96 capillary) sequencer is available in the Genetics Core Facility. The 3730 is configured with a 50cm column for increased sequencing read length and is ideal for large-scale production of targeted resequencing projects or various fragment analysis applications (e.g. microsatellites or AFLP).

The Genetics Core Facility has 4 Applied Biosystems Veriti cyclers with both 96-well and 384-well blocks and 4 BioRad iCyclers.

The QuantStudio 5 (384-well) is a real-time PCR instrument for many types of assays including quantitative PCR, gene expression, multiplex Taqman detection assays, and genotyping.

The Agilent Fragment Analyzer and Bioanalyzer provide quality control of nucleic acids using automated parallel capillary electrophoresis and chip-based capillary electrophoresis, respectively.

A Pippin Prep from Sage Science is available for highly accurate size selection. This is especially useful for preparing samples intended for genome assembly or for high throughput genotyping assays employing reduced representation libraries.

The Genetics Core Facility utilizes a Packard MultiProbe II Plus HT EX automated liquid handling system. It provides an efficient and accurate way to perform reaction setup, normalize DNA samples, and pool amplicon products for Illumina sequencing.

The MPBio FastPrep 24 bead beating grinder and lysis system is used for tissue homogenization and cell lysis. It is the first step for many nucleic acid extraction methods.

A NanoDrop One Spectrophotometer is available for DNA, RNA, and protein quantification. A Hoefer Dyna Quant 300 fluorometer is also available for fluorescence-based quantification of dsDNA. For high-throughput needs, a BioTek Synergy HTX plate reader is available which can read many samples simultaneously for absorbance or fluorescence-based assays.

Bench space is available at the Genetics Core Facility for sample processing. Each bench has adequate space, storage shelves, a pipette set, a vortexer, and a heated dry bath. Ancillary equipment such as centrifuges, multichannel pipettes, electronic pipettes, and a PCR setup hood is also available.

Linux and Windows-based computer workstations are available in the Genetics Core Facility.