Attention DNA Sequencers:
I work at The Rockefeller University in DNA Sequencing Lab of Protein/DNA
Technology Center. We sequence over 90, 000 samples a year. Please note
that I am not a MJ research representative/sale.
I would like to hear from other people who are using the Basestation from MJ
research or submitted samples/saw their DEMO for this machine(Basestation).
This machine use slab technology with the ability to run 96 samples from any
chemistry.
Yesterday, I attended their demo by Christopher Abbott, Product Support
Specialist. I was able to run my own 96 samples (BigDye terminator) from
start to finish on the Basestation(11am-4pm).
The Basestation seems to good to be true for a 96-high-throughput machine.
The software, i.e. Cartographer Analysis, seems user-friendly and screen
size fits in one panel to view gel image, electropherogram data, and list of
sample runs.
Below are my PROS and CONS for the machine/software.
PROS
*** No matrix to run. However you can make your own if your not satisfied.
*** Changing chemistries(i.e. big dye terminators to primer to other
chemistry) are easy with a change of a mirror in the Base station.
If the wrong module is selected in the computer, it can still be
changed.
*** 1 ul out 20-35 ul of sample(in formamide) is loaded from our 1:1
Big Dye reactions.
*** Loading trays can be taking out before the runs starts for repeats
or a second, third, ..., or twenty sequencing verification.
*** Gel washing for machine setup is nonexistent. (Laser passed through
the top glass and the excitation is pick up on the same side.)
*** Glass plates are smaller and compact.
*** Gel polymerization takes 5 minutes under UV light with a
photoinitiator. No APS, No temed, and No RUSH.
*** Upper/lower buffer chambers are attached to top plate, i.e. no
buffer leaks and less buffer used.
*** Cooling plate is on the platform.
*** Gel loading of 96 samples is automated(takes about ~25 minute till
the run starts).
*** Software is easy to learn. Scroll down cheat sheet included.
*** Software license allows for up to 10 computers in the lab.
*** Phred scores can be given to each sequence and scores are exportable
to Excel documents.
*** Tracking 96 lanes are fast(1-2 minutes). You can retract by one
lane automatically! You can use your mouse to draw the tracking lane!
*** Graphics after gel extraction are great.
*** Electropherogram data can be manipulated to give even peak heights
using different modules. They actually make a big difference in
the appearance and electropherogram data is changed. Therefore,
the user see the same appearance.
CONS
*** Data files are not in ABI format(Later version will have this
option).
*** Gel display before tracking is only one expanded view.
It is not a good representation of the data.
*** Trim is all 96 samples and not individually.
*** Staggered loading is not a option but can be done by loading
even sample first(w/ even sample sheet) and then restarting the
run to load the odd(w/ odd sample sheet). In the end, the correct
sample sheet is re-installed.
Notes:
*** There is an external heating/cooling system. I.e. water bath at 40'c.
*** Maintenance looks low. A H2O bottle and a tray of 10X are the
only thing to clean after the run.
*** Its seems that there is no text files produced. Files format
can be used with any editor.
*** It runs on a PC. It ahs a CD burner.
Kudos to MJ Research, Guoshan Tsen, and Christopher Abbot.
--
Jeremy Medalle
Lab Coordinator
The Rockefeller University
1240 York Ave
Box 105
NY, NY 10021
HTTP://www.protein13-pc.rockefeller.edu
