Molecular facilities include all aspects of rDNA work, beginning with a beadbeater machine for DNA extraction and a custom-built spectrofluorometer for highly sensitive DNA quantitation (with Molecular Probes' PicoGreen dye). Thermal cyclers include an Eppendorf MasterCycler and Stratagene RoboCycler, both 96-well format gradient machines, as well as 2 Perkin-Elmer TCs. Gel electrophoresis capabilities include rapid horizontal gel formats as well as Bio-Rad’s DCODE system for mutation analysis (DGGE and TGGE), as well as a digital geldoc setup and a semi-dry blotting system. An ABI 310 sequencer with GeneScan software was funded by a NSF-CCLI grant.

The lab also includes an Olympus BX-51 compound fluorescence microscope with a Pixera Penguin cooled CCD camera, and Nikon SMZ-800 stereo microscope. Other equipment includes 3 SRI gas chromatographs and general equipment, including a fluorometer, a Coulter counter, hybridization ovens, a refrigerator/freezer, cooled incubator, filtration equipment, ventilation and laminar hoods, and microcentrifuges. Field gear includes pH meters, temperature probes, and standard water analysis equipment, including a Hydrolab Quanta water profiler.

Lab computers include Macintosh G3 and G4 machines and a recent 1.8 Ghz PC, all equipped with statistical and scientific software, including DNAStar’s Lasergene package for genetic analysis.