Electrophoresis

Imaging system

FluorChem 8000 from Alpha Innotech (San Leandro, CA) is an advanced fluorescence, chemiluminescence, and visible imaging system. With key advantages in resolution, sensitivity, dynamic range, and performance, FluorChem provides unparalleled imaging sophistication for any user. With over 1.3 million pixel resolution, nearly 60% quantum efficiency at 400 nm, and 0 to 65,536 linear dynamic range, Alpha Innotech also combines FluorChem with the new AlphaEase FC software package for ease of use with a comprehensive set of analysis tools. http://www.alphainnotech.com 

Total software

From Phoretix (Newcastle upon Tyne, UK), the TotalLab software package offers image capture, documentation, and analysis of 1D and 2D gels, dot and slot blots, microtiter plates, and other gridded arrays and colonies. Features include automatic and comprehensive analysis of 1D gels in less than 5 seconds for densitometry and molecular sizing, full quantitative and qualitative analysis of arrays, and colony counting based on powerful 2D spot detection algorithms. Yet TotalLab is easy to use, with intuitive software that is flexible and modular. http://www.totallab.com 

Easy combs

The Gel Company (San Francisco, CA) offers Rapid Load 2.0 membrane combs for fast, convenient gel loading of DNA sequencing systems. Samples are loaded at the bench, where the porous comb is dipped into a tray to absorb all samples simultaneously. The comb is then inserted between two glass plates and the samples are electrophoresed into the gel, eliminating the tedium of pipetting samples directly onto the gel and minimizing lane-to-lane leakage. http://www.gelcompany.com

Chip technology

Fast reader

Virtek's (Waterloo, Ontario, Canada) ChipReader laser confocal system for imaging fluorescent microarray biochips is designed to streamline the imaging process, enabling genomic and proteomic researchers to get results up to 10 times faster. ChipReader is the first biochip imaging system to offer simultaneous reading of up to five different fluorescent dyes, on formats varying from standard microscope slides, stainless steel cartridges, and 3×4 inch glass plates. http://www.virtek.ca 

Slide action

Corning Microarray Technology (CMT)-GAPS coated slides are bar-coded 25×75 mm glass slides coated with a γ-aminopropylsilane surface chemistry that enables the even immobilization of DNA. They are an ideal substrate for customers who want to print their own microarrays. Manufactured through a proprietary process, CMT-GAPS coated slides offer high performance in terms of uniform spot morphology, high DNA retention for maximum signal strength, improved sensitivity through ultra-low fluorescent background, and enhanced signal-to-noise ratio. CMT-GAPS coated slides certified to be DNase and RNase free, and are available from Corning Science Products (Acton, MA). http://www.cmt.corning.com 

Lab on a chip

The HP 2100 bioanalyzer from Hewlett-Packard (Palo Alto, CA) applies Caliper Technologies' LabChip technology to integrate all sample preparation, fluid handling, separation, detection, and digital data processing of nucleic acids within a single, compact system architecture. The microchips used comprise microchannels fabricated in glass, plastic, or other substrates that create interconnected networks of fluid reservoirs and pathways. Used together with various LapChip kits, the HP 2100 bioanalyzer can be used to accurately size and quantitate DNA fragments ranging in size from 100 to 12,000 bp, as well as total RNA and mRNA samples. http://www.hp.com