Main Laboratory
Sterilization & Sample Preparation Section,
PCR Section,
Gel Electrophoresis Section,
Glassware Storage,
Chemical & Sample Storage Area.
This allows scientists to study the causes and contributing factors of health conditions in communities. Without twins, this type of research would be nearly impossible to conduct. Such information can help improve the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of many health issues in Sri Lanka and other South Asian countries.
Major Laboratory Equipment
- UV-visible Spectrophotometers
- Incubator
- Large & Medium Gel
- Electrophoresis Units
- Freezers: -86°C, -40°C & 4°C
- Blue Light Transilluminator System
- A nalytical Balance & Electronic Balance
- Multi-range Power Supply
- System Magnetic Stirrer
- Thermal Cycler
- pH Meters
- Ice Flakes Machine
- Hygrometer
- Bench Top Centrifuge
- Dry Bath Incubator
- Microcentrifuge
- Class II Biosafety Cabinet
- Autoclave
- Ductless Fume Hood
- SDS PAGE
DNA-Analysis Software
GelMapper
GeneScan®Software
Other related software packages
Nucleic Acid Isolation
Plants
Animals
Tissues
Fluids
All forms of microorganisms
Nucleic Acid Quantification & Quality Analysis
Quantification & Purity Checking
Thermo Scientific NanoDrop 2000 spectrophotometer is available to measure the concentration and purity of DNA and RNA samples.
Thermo Scientific™ NanoDrop 2000 is a full-spectrum, UV-Visible spectrophotometer used to quantify and assess the purity of DNA, RNA, Protein and more. The NanoDrop 2000 is the only micro volumes spectrophotometers with patented sample retention technology that measure sample volumes as small as 0.5μL. This is the perfect instrument for almost every lab dealing with sample analysis or preparation. It is easy to use and samples can be simply pipetted directly onto the pedestal. Dilution of the samples for the quantification is not required even for highly concentrated samples (up to 15,000 ng/ µL). This can give results fast and has a less than five second measurement time. NanoDrop 2000 comes with user-friendly software packed with many features.
Gel Electrophoresis
Horizontal agarose gel electrophoresis unit is used to diagnose the DNA fragments of the PCR products and to check the integrity of the genomic DNA extracted. It is a convenient analytical method for determining the size of DNA molecules in the range of 500 to 30,000 base pairs. ENDURO™ 15.10 Horizontal Gel Box (with 10 cm × 15 cm long tray gel beds) and SIGMA-ALDRICH Maxi horizontal electrophoresis (with 20 x 20 cm long tray gel beds) units are available at our Laboratory.
Power Supplies
Power supplies provide voltage and electric readings. ENDURO™ Power Supplies are used to supply electrical power to the gel electrophoresis unit at our laboratory. They are ideal for DNA, RNA and protein electrophoresis as well as blotting. They provide a high degree of sophistication and versatility and are extremely easy to use.
Operating choices for the power supplies include constant voltage, constant amperage or constant wattage and timed or continuous operation. All operating parameters are set using the membrane keypad and displayed digitally on the backlit LCD. Safety features incorporated into the systems include automatic crossover, no load detection, sudden load change and over voltage protection. The units can be programmed to restart in the event of a power disruption. This unit features a voltage range from 2 to 300V in 1V increments. Current is adjustable in 0.01A steps to a maximum of 5A. Wattage is adjustable in 1W and steps up to 90W.
Gel Visualization & Documentation system
Safe Imager™ 2.0 Blue Light Transilluminator is used to visualize the agarose gels. The Safe Imager™ 2.0 Blue-Light Transilluminator offers a less toxic way to view gels and dramatically increase cloning efficiency by causing minimal DNA damage. The Safe Imager™ 2.0 transilluminator produces monochromatic, visible blue light that is optimal for excitation of blue light–excitable nucleic acid and protein stains.
Gel Documentation System is used for the imaging and documentation of nucleic acid and protein polyacrylamide or agarose gels typically stained with Ethidium bromide or other fluorophores such as SYBR Green. The Gel Doc system at IRD genetic laboratory is composed of a Blue light transilluminator, a hood to shield external light sources and a DSLR.
Cryogenic Sample Storage
Cryopreservation is a process used in laboratories where biological specimens such as cells, whole tissues, or any other substances which are generally susceptible to damages caused by chemical reactivity or time are preserved by cooling to sub-zero temperatures. At low-temperature conditions, any enzymatic or chemical activity which might cause damage to biological materials is effectively stopped. We maintain a cryogenic storage system for samples generated through research work at the Institute for Research and Development.
A -80°C and -20°C freezers are available for storing human whole blood samples, extracted DNA samples and tissue samples, chemicals, and reagents used in different applications. Currently, the ultra-low freezers (-80°C ± 10°C) (capacity 815L and 400L) are used for biobanking and normal freezers (-40°C ± 5°C) are used for temporary sample storage and chemical storage purposes.
PCR Facilities
A contamination free area is available to carry out PCR, along with one PCR machine. We use the Applied Biosystems 2720 Thermal Cycler in the our genetics laboratory for PCR-based applications.
The Applied Biosystems 2720 Thermal Cycler is an automated instrument, specifically designed for the amplification of nucleic acids using the GeneAmp Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) process.
The instrument has an integrated 96-well sample block, which houses an internal Peltier heating / cooling unit.
The sample block is made of aluminum to provide optimal thermal transfer rate.
Platinum sensors provide:
- Wide temperature range: 4°C to 99.9°C
- Accuracy: ±0.25°C from 35°C to 99.9°C
- Long term stability and high reliability
The sample block accommodates several different types of MicroAmpR disposable tubes and plates, which must be used in order to create a sealed chamber.
Biological Safety Cabinets
Class II Biological safety cabinets with UV light are used for preparing PCR products and sequencing samples.
This is used to obtain the optimum control over product quality while reducing the potential for exposure of both product and personnel to airborne biological or particulate chemical agents in low to moderate risk-hazard research and product operations.
It is designed to meet IEC 61010-1 Safety/Protection Standards ISO 9001 Quality Certified Manufacturing Environment. This provides efficient laminar air flow to keep contaminants from entering the work area or the laboratory.
SDS PAGE
SDS-PAGE is an analytical technique employed to separate proteins based on their molecular weight. It combines the denaturing properties of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) with the sieving effect of polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE). This dual action allows researchers to analyze complex protein mixtures with high resolution and accuracy. The method’s versatility and robustness make it essential for tasks such as protein purification, molecular weight estimation, and the evaluation of protein purity.