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Teaching & Research Facilities
Department of Biology and Chemistry
Lab Facilities and Equipment
The Department of Biology and Chemistry research and teaching labs are housed in the the science, math and technology facilities in the Academic Building. This new facility includes an array of biology, chemistry and physics teaching & research labs, computer and equipment labs, a seminar auditorium, faculty offices, and a number of attractive common areas overlooking the campus and new University Oratory. One of the computer teaching labs (maintained by the Department of Math and Physics) contains 18 Apple eMac computers and an Apple G5 server. Additional computers are available in a second computer lab and in the science labs. Wireless internet access will be available throughout the building. Click HERE for a few images of the new labs.
Students in the Biology and Chemistry programs have direct access to an array of state-of-the-art instrumentation for classroom and research lab work in molecular biology, genetics, cell biology, microbiology, biochemistry, computer modeling/programming and chemistry. In addition to the standard lab equipment and glassware, major instrumentation includes it items listed below.
Spectroscopy
Cary Eclipse Fluorescence Spectrophotometer
This instrument is for the characterization and quantization of fluorescent molecules in biological and biochemical studies. This spectrophotometer is equipped with a 96-well plate reader and can be used with our stopped-flow device to study fast reactions (millisecond timescale).
Cary 50 UV-Vis Spectrophotometer
This spectrophotometer is for the measurement of light adsorption by molecules. This instrument is used in a wide variety of experiments such as the characterization of molecular structure, concentration determinations, and the study of enzyme/reaction kinetics. This instrument also accommodates the stopped-flow module for the study of fast reactions.
Perkin Elmer FX-I Infrared Spectrophotometer
This IR is used for the identification of organic functional groups. This instrument is used extensively in the organic chemistry courses.
Anasazi FT-NMR Spectrometer
This instrument is used to determine the connectivity of atoms in complex organic molecules. This instrument is capable of sophisticated 1D and 2D NMR experiments using either 1H or 13C nuclei. Students use this instrument extensively in organic labs and in research.
GE Storm Fluorescent Gel Imager and Phosphorimager
For the high resolution imaging of fluorescent and radioactively labeled biomolecules in gels and blots.
Beckman LS 6000SC Liquid Scintillation Counter
This instrument is used to quantitate radioactivity in a variety of sample types. It is used primarily in biochemical and enzymological assays.
Molecular/Cell Biology
Syngene GeneFlash and GeneGnome gel doc stations
These stations are used to document protein and DNA bands on electrophoresis gels. They can be used to detect gels that have been stained with fluorescent or colored dyes as well as chemiluminescence (light producing) protein and DNA gel bands.
UVP Ultraviolet Crosslinker and blot hybridization incubator
New Brunswick Inova and G25 Incubator/shakers
These are used for the small and large-scale culture of bacteria and yeast.
PCR Thermocyclers (3)
This equipment is used to amplify DNA using the polymerase chain reaction. It is routinely used in cloning, gene mapping and genotyping experiments.
Revco ultra-cold freezer
Ultra-cold storage of biological reagents, strains and samples.
Motic high-resolution dissecting scopes
VanGuard 1400FL Series Fluorescent Microscope
This is a high resolution fluorescent microscope interfaced to a computer and high resolution digital camera. It is capable of brightfield and phase-contrast microscopy.
Savant DNA Speedvac
This is used for the rapid drying of small biological samples, primarily DNA and RNA.
Plant grow carts
These are used for genetics experiments involving plants.
Centrifugation
Sorvall RC5C PLUS Superspeed Refrigerated Centrifuge
This centrifuge is used primarily for pelleting bacteria and yeast, and preparative protein and DNA purification procedures.
Beckman L8-80M ultracentrifuge
The L8-80M ultracentrifuge reaches a maximum speed of 80,000 rpm with 602,000g. This centrifuge is valuable in cell fractionation studies.
Chromatography
Varian CP-3800 Capillary Gas Chromatograph
This is a research-grade instrument for qualitative and quantitative analysis of organic compounds. It is used routinely in the organic chemistry courses.
BioRad Biologic Chromatography System
This equipment is used in large-scale protein purification.
Computer Resources
Macintosh computer lab with G5 server
Waveform Spartan 06 software for molecular mechanics and quantum chemical modeling
All equipment, teaching labs and research labs are network integrated.
Eight complete Vernier chemistry workstations interfaced to laptop computers.
Chemical Abstracts Scifinder Scholar Database