Technology
MALDI-TOF
Use: Protein/peptide/large organic molecule identification and characterization
Application: Proteomics of mycobacteriophage infection; proteomics of microaerophilic bacteria; characterization of matrix metalloproteinases; among numerous others.
Cost: $279,000
Source of Funds: National Science Foundation and Calvin College
CO2 Incubator
Use: Allows cells to be grown in culture by emulating a cell’s
normal environment in an organism
Application: Growing nerve cells to study regneration and repair
Cost: $76,000
Source of Funds: National Science Foundation
Biological Safety Cabinet
Use: Maintains safe, sterile environment for working with
cultured mammalian cells
Application: Measuring how drugs affect cell growth
Cost: $76,000
Source of Funds: National Science Foundation
Flow Cytometer
Use: Measures fluorescently labeled structures in or on cells
Applications: Identifying leukemia cells or the amount of DNA in
individual cells
Cost: $224,000
Source of Funds: National Science Foundation
Inverted Microscope
Use: Viewing living cells growing in culture
Application: Observing cellular responses to infection
Cost: $30,000
Source of Funds: Calvin Science Division Equipment Endowment
CO2 Monitoring System
Use:
Application:
Cost:
Sources of Funds:
Autoclave
Use: Sterilizes equipment and reagents by combined heat and pressure
Application: Sterilizing media for growing bacteria and other microorganisms
Cost: $45,000
Source of Funds: Private Donor
Fluorescent Microscope
Use: Viewing fluorescently labeled structures in cells and tissue
Application: Observing nuclear staining patterns in cells from lupus patients
Cost: $33,000
Source of Funds: Dow Corning Corporation
Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) Machine
Use: Copies genes or gene fragments (one million copies in two hours)
Application: Forensic analysis of small samples of DNA
Cost: $28,000
Sources of Funds: Howard Hughes Medical Institute, NationalScience Foundation
CEQ Capilary DNA Sequencer
Use: Identifies the building blocks (nucleotides) of DNA and related
molecules
Application: DNA fingerprinting to determine how organisms differ
genetically from each other?
Cost: $70,000
Sources of Funds: Private Donor, Calvin Science Division Equipment Endowment
Gene Gun
Use: Inserts (shoots) genes into living plants and animals
Application: Modify plants to produce natural pesticides from other
organisms
Cost: $15,000
Source of Funds: National Science Foundation
Infrared Imaging System
Use: Visualizing images of genes, gene fragments, and gene products
Application: Distinguishing between normal and cancer cells
Cost: $37,000
Source of Funds: Howard Hughes Medical Institute
Image Documentation System
Use: Digitizing images for permanently recording laboratory
data
Application: DNA fingerprinting, killing of bacteria by antibiotics
Cost: $20,000
Sources of Funds: Several Research Grants
Fluorometer
Use: Measuring fluorescently tagged structures in cells and tissues
Application: Measuring the amount of bacteria ingested by white blood cells
Cary 50
Use: Measures light generated by a chemical reaction inside a cell
Application: Measuring a drug’s influence on gene expression or protein
function
Cost: $16,500
Source of Funds: Orthopaedic Research Grants
Ultracentrifuge and Rotors
Use: Separates structures by rotation at ultra high speed (80,000 rpm,
605,000 x g), an ultra high-speed refrigerated centrifuge
Application: Isolating and purifying cellular components (orangelles and small
structures)
Cost: $51,350
Sources of Funds: Kresge Grant and Calvin Equipment
Ultramicrotome
Use: Prepare ultra thin (thinner than a human hair) sections for viewing
with an electron microscope
Application: Examining magnetic structures in cells that honeybees use for
navigation
Cost: $35,000
Sources of Funds: Private Donations
Cell 3D Imaging System (Zeiss Apotome)
Use: Captures 3D images of cells or tissues with
computerized reconstruction of image—like a CAT
scan of a cell
Application: Localizing internalized molecules within cells
Cost: $174,000
Source of Funds: National Science Foundation
Computerized Physiology Monitoring Equipment
Use: Measures light generated by a chemical reaction inside
a cell
Application: Measuring a drug’s influence on gene expression or
protein function
Cost: $16,500
Source of Funds: National Science Foundation
