(A) Electron
microscopy and confocal microscopy.
We have a JEOL JEM-1200EXII electron microscope and microtome (Ultracut
E) as well as a Zeiss LSM510 confocal microscope. Research Specialist
Erika Hartwieg is dedicated full-time to using these resources for
the projects of the laboratory.
(B) DNA sequencing.
We have an Applied Biosystems 373 Stretch DNA sequencer. Research
Technician Beth Castor is dedicated full-time to using this resource
for the projects of the laboratory.
(C) Genomics and robotics.
We have a Tecan Genesis Workstation 200 with a Te-Mo 96-channel
pipetter. This robotic liquid-handling system is used for screening
for deletion mutants and the construction of our deletion libraries
and will be used for other high-throughput operations. Research Technician
Andrew Hellman is dedicated full-time to using this robot for the
projects of the laboratory. For gene chip studies, we have access
to equipment at the MIT BioMicroCenter (http://bioweb.mit.edu/).
This equipment includes an Arrayworx Chip Scanner, a Genetic Microsystems
Arraying Robot, an MWG Primus PCR Machine, and an MWG 4200 Pipetting
Robot .
(D) Laser microsurgery.
We have a Laser Science Inc. VLS-337 coumarin-dye laser with
a fiber-optics link.
(E) Electrophysiology.
Our equipment for electrophysiological studies includes an
Axon Instruments Axopatch 200B Integrating Patch Clamp and a Warner
Oocyte Clamp OC-725C.
(F) C. elegans strain collection.
We have more than 14,000 strains of C. elegans. We keep
most of these strains in freezers at –80oC and in
liquid nitrogen. Laboratory Manager Na An is responsible for the freezing,
thawing, and distribution of these strains to members of our laboratory
and to colleagues around the world.
