Equipment configuration required for a molecular biology laboratory

(1) Incubator In molecular biology experiments, many reactions are carried out at specific temperatures, which requires a temperature control device. For example: for bacterial plate culture, we usually set it at 37℃ for inverted culture in an incubator; other molecular biology experiments such as enzyme digestion require conditions like 25℃, 30℃, 37℃.

(2) Refrigerator Refrigerators are essential instruments for storing reagents and samples in the laboratory. Some reagents used in molecular biology experiments require storage at 4 degrees, while others require storage at -20 degrees. Laboratory personnel must clearly check the storage conditions of reagents and store them at appropriate temperatures. Specifically, items stored at different temperatures are as follows:

a. 4℃ is suitable for storing certain solutions, reagents, medicines, etc.

b. -20℃ is suitable for certain reagents, medicines, enzymes, serum, prepared antibiotics, and DNA, protein samples, etc.

c. -80℃ is suitable for long-term low-temperature storage of certain samples, E. coli strains, purified samples, special low-temperature treated digestion solutions, competent cells, etc.

d. Chromatography refrigerators at 0-10℃ are suitable for experiments such as electrophoresis, chromatography, and dialysis under low-temperature conditions.

(3) Shaker Shakers are commonly used laboratory instruments, generally available in normal temperature and low temperature types. For molecular biology laboratories, configuring a low-temperature shaker can meet different experimental needs. For example: used for shaking culture of bioengineering strains such as E. coli and yeast, and induced expression of proteins, culture is usually at 28 and 37 degrees, induced expression requires 20-37 degrees; during the preparation of competent cells, temperature control at 18 degrees is required; used for shaking during staining and destaining of protein gels, used at room temperature; used for shaking recovery during routine E. coli transformation, usually at 37 degrees. For controlling temperatures below room temperature, we need a low-temperature shaker for temperature control.

(4) Water Bath A water bath is also a temperature control device. Water bath temperature control is relatively fast for samples and provides sufficient contact. For example, used for heat shock reaction during E. coli transformation at 42 degrees; used for water bath temperature control during DNA hybridization.

(5) Drying Oven Drying ovens are used for sterilizing and drying items after washing. Drying ovens have different temperature control ranges, and users can choose according to experimental needs. For example, some plastic utensils can only be dried in an oven at 42-45℃; experimental utensils for RNA-related experiments need to be dried in an oven at 250℃.

(6) Pure Water System Pure water systems include distillation units and pure water machines. Distillation units are cheaper but require supervision during water production; pure water machines are more expensive but convenient to use and can store a certain amount of pure water. Pure water use also has different grades; general laboratory water requires pure water, while PCR, DNA sequencing, and enzyme reactions all require ultrapure water.

(7) Autoclave Most experimental utensils used in molecular biology should be strictly disinfected and sterilized. This includes experimental items, reagents, culture media, etc. Autoclaves also come in different sizes and models; some are manual, and some are fully automatic. Users need to choose according to their own needs.

(8) Balance Balances are used for precise weighing of various reagents. Electronic balances are commonly used in laboratories, and they have different levels based on their precision.

(9) Liquid Measuring Devices Liquid measuring devices are used for precise measurement of various liquids. Common liquid measuring devices include measuring cylinders, pipettes, micropipettes, graduated test tubes, and beakers.

(10) pH Meter Used for accurate measurement of pH values when preparing reagents, thereby ensuring the accuracy of the prepared solution. Sometimes, a pH meter is also needed to determine the acidity or alkalinity of sample solutions.

(11) Spectrophotometer A spectrophotometer is used to analyze the content and purity of nucleic acids and proteins in samples by measuring absorbance; it can also be used to determine the concentration of bacterial cultures.

(12) Centrifuge Centrifuges are divided into refrigerated and room temperature types. They are mainly used for collecting microbial cells, cell debris, and other precipitates. Some samples are not stable at room temperature and require a low-temperature environment. For example, a low-temperature environment must be ensured during competent cell preparation, so a refrigerated centrifuge is needed.

(13) Ultra-clean Workbench In molecular biology, all operations involving bacteria must be performed under an ultra-clean workbench. Competent cell preparation, transformation reactions, etc., also require a sterile environment.

(14) Electrophoresis System There are three main types of electrophoresis commonly used in laboratories: horizontal electrophoresis for agarose gel electrophoresis detection of nucleic acids (DNA/RNA); vertical electrophoresis for polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis detection of proteins; and transfer electrophoresis for transferring proteins to membranes for Western blot detection.

(15) PCR Machine PCR machines have different types, each used for different experiments. Standard and gradient PCR machines are used for DNA/RNA amplification during gene cloning and gene detection. Quantitative fluorescence PCR machines are used for nucleic acid quantification, gene expression difference analysis, single nucleotide polymorphism detection, and methylation detection. In situ PCR machines are used to identify and locate cells with target sequences in tissues.

(16) Gel Imaging Analysis System/UV Detector Gel imaging systems are used for observing and photographing stained nucleic acid agarose electrophoresis gels and protein polyacrylamide gels, some of which can perform gel cutting operations. UV detectors can be used for observing stained nucleic acid agarose electrophoresis gels and for gel cutting operations during gel recovery, but they cannot be connected to a computer for photography.

(17) Ice Machine Flake ice machines are commonly used in laboratories, and ice machines are generally divided into different models based on their daily ice production capacity. In molecular laboratories, they create the low-temperature environment required for most nucleic acid and protein experimental operations to reduce hydrolysis by nucleases or proteinases. Competent cell preparation also requires a long ice bath.

(18) Magnetic Stirrer During reagent preparation, some reagents are difficult to dissolve, at which point a magnetic stirrer is needed. Magnetic stirrers can accelerate the dissolution of solid contents. Magnetic stirrers generally come with a heating function.

(19) Biosafety Cabinet Many reagents and samples involved in molecular experiments are toxic and pose significant harm to operators. To prevent the spread of harmful suspended particles and aerosols, a biosafety cabinet can provide safety protection for operators, samples, cross-contamination between samples, and the environment.

(20) Microwave oven and electric stove Used for rapid heating of solutions, heating and melting preparation of electrophoresis agarose gel, and heating and melting of solid media.

(21) Liquid nitrogen tank The preparation of competent cells in molecular biology experiments requires liquid nitrogen treatment. Competent cells can also be stored in liquid nitrogen.

(22) Micropipette Micropipettes also come in different models and are used for accurately measuring specific volumes of solutions.