Extreme environments on Earth, including those created by humans (e.g., clean rooms), are generally low in biomass. Environmental contamination, particularly for molecular biology analysis, is therefore a problem. The purpose of AstrobiologyOU's newly-designated low biomass molecular biology laboratory is to limit the contamination of samples during DNA extraction and PCRs steps to ensure our data is robust.
The low biomass laboratory contains three primary pieces of equipment: a PCR workstation for low biomass nucleic acid extraction, a fume hood for extractions using hazardous chemicals, and a bead beater for removing nucleic acid from environmental samples or from hard-to-digest microorganisms. In order to maintain low biomass in this facility. Access to this facility is restricted to only those researchers working on low biomass samples. High biomass samples are assayed on another floor of the building.
The specifications of the PCR workstation are found in the table below:
Manufacturer | Air Science Technologies |
---|---|
Model | Purair PCR 48 |
Construction | Epoxy-coated steel frame with a polypropylene work surface |
Air cleanliness standards | Exceeds ISO class 5 |
Main filter | HEPA |
Decontamination | Integral germicidal UV lamp |
Flows | Vertical lamina airflow |
The specifications of the fume cupboard are found in the table below:
Manufacturer | Integrated Laboratory Services |
---|---|
Model | K8 series |
Construction | 1500 mm |
Construction | 316 grade stainless steel front cill with a Trespa inner chamber |
Manufacture standards | BS EN 14175 |
Flows | 0.50 m/sec |
The specifications of the bead beater are found in the table below:
Manufacturer | MP Biomedicals |
---|---|
Model | FastPrep 24 5G |
Sample volume | 200 µl to 50 ml; to 25 g |
Sample type | Yeast, fungi, bacteria, soft tissues, cells, faecal or soil samples. Breaks hard/brittle samples. Grinding of teeth, bone, hair and pulverisation of construction materials. Isolate DNA from virtually any sample |
Time range | 1 to 120 seconds in 1 second increments |
Speed range | 4 to 10 m/sec in 0.5 m/sec increments |
Cycles | 1-9 cycles |
Pause time | 1 to 300 second pause between cycles in 1 second increments (default: 300 Seconds) |
For more information, please read:
Macey, M. C., Fox-Powell, M., Ramkissoon, N. K., Stephens, B. P., Barton, T., Schwenzer, S. P., Pearson, V. K., Cousins, C. R. and Olsson-Francis, K. (2020). The identification of sulfide oxidation as a potential metabolism driving primary production on late Noachian Mars. Scientific reports, 10, article no. 10941.
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