In this section, we describe the different facilities available in the department and provide a list of some of the major equipment.  Questions about the laboratory facilities should be directed to Claudia Fernandez, Technician II (room 429; 214-828-8244).

Links to pictures and web pages are provided for some equipment. 

Microscopy-Image Analysis

The Microscopy-Image Analysis facilities provide advanced image analysis for histomorphometry, immunofluorescence analysis, and 3D-reconstruction using light and confocal microscopy.  The instruments include: 

• Leica SP2 (2000 model) confocal system with three lasers and four detectors used with either an upright or inverted microscopes. [view image] [launch website]

• Nikon epifluorescent microscope equipped for digital monochrome and color image analysis, an X-Y-Z encoded motorized stage, Pentium computer and Metamorph software, as well as a second Nikon microscope with a Sony DXC-390 camera and Bioquant NOVA software for bone histomorphometry. [view image] [launch website]

• Zeiss Axioplan microscope with a color digital camera for slides or print capture.
  [view image]

• JEOL JSM-6300 scanning EM [launch website]

• Additional computer facility includes a dedicated Pentium attached to an HP flatbed scanner, Nikon LC-100 slide scanner, Kodak di-sublimation printer and Polaroid slide film recorder.

Molecular Biology Laboratory

[view image]- The central molecular lab of the Department of Biomedical Sciences is a 1,600 ft² suite of rooms comprised of equipment facilities, cell and tissue culture facilities and a core lab working area [view image]. Equipment in the cell and molecular biology core includes:

• MJ Research PTC-100 thermocycler
• Stratagene MX4000 RT-PCR [launch website]
• Agilent 2100 Bioanalyzer [view image] [launch website]
• Autopix 100 Laser Capture Microscope system [view image] [download .pdf ]
• Gibco BRL S2 sequencing system
• Kodak Image Station [view image] [launch website]
• Nucleovision image station [view image]
• Beckman L-60 ultracentrifuge
• 2 Beckman J2-21 centrifuges
• Eppendorph refrigerated centrifuge
• Savant Speed-Vac S200 and lyophilizer
• Labline shaking incubator
• Packard Cobra auto-gamma counter [launch website]
• Packard 1900 TR liquid scintillation counter [launch website]
• Beckman DU-64 and DU-62 spectrophotometers
• Molecular Devices 96 well plate reader
• 3 -80°C freezers.
• Tissue Processor
• Dedicated Histology Hood
• Dedicated Radiation Hood
• Glassware dishwasher
• 4°C Refrigerator (2)
• UV Crosslinker
• ELISA Plate Reader
• Power Supply for Gel assays
• Gel running Equipment
• Homogenizers
• Stir Plates
• RNA Dedicated Hood
• Microwave
• Tabletop Centrifuge
• Water baths
• -80°C and -20°C Freezers
• Balances, basic and analytical
• pH Meter
• Microcentrifuge
• Drying Ovens
• Liquid Nitrogen Tank
• Ice Machine

Cell and Tissue Culture Facility

The cell and tissue culture facility [view image] is divided into three rooms that are suitable for prokaryotic cell culture, eukaryotic cell culture, and organ culture. The cell culture rooms are equipped with the following:

• 3 laminar flow hoods [view image]
• Sterile guard hood
• 5 CO2 incubators
• Sorvall low speed refrigerated centrifuge
• Distilled water dispenser
• 37°C Shaking Water Bath
• 2 Inverted microscopes
• Microscope with camera attachment
• 2 Refrigerator / Freezers

Histology Facility

The histology lab is a 400 ft.² facility equipped with the following:

• Leitz 1512 microtome
• Micron HM 500M ultramicrotome
• VIP Tissue Tek processing station
• PELCO Biowave Microwave System [launch website]
• Paraffin embedding station
• Equipment for bone histomorphology
• 4 Buehler Isomet low speed saws
• Jung Model K microtome
• Jung/Reichert Supercut microtome
• Buehler grinding and polishing devices.
• Slide warmer
• Histo – orientator
• Water bath (2)
• Microscope
• Knife sharpener
• Dual-headed microscope
• Slide Dryer (2)
• Paraffin Oven
• pH meter

Microbiology Laboratory 

Major equipment in the Microbiology Laboratory includes:

• Becton Dickinson FACS Calibur [launch website]
• Double Coy anaerobic chamber
• 2 laminar flow hoods
• CO2 incubator
• Beckman GS-6R medium speed table-top centrifuge -80°C freezer

Media Preparation Area

• Large steam autoclave
• Zeiss epifluorescence microscope with Nomarski optics.