Science Equipment for a Molecular Biology Laboratory

To start with, when you begin equipping a molecular biology lab, you need the usual test tubes, beakers, desiccators, pipettes with fillers, and flasks, together with all the necessary clamps, stoppers, frames and supports.

The basic furniture will need to consist of sufficient worktop space, computer station/s, chemical and biological storage cabinets, possibly a filtered, controlled environment (heating & cooling, and humidity control). In some cases access control, a gray room and clean room conditions may even be necessary.

Since this branch of science deals with organic materials from living cell tissues, it stands to reason that temperatures are critical. Most laboratories use refrigerators and freezers, and sometimes surface mounted refrigeration units. Some procedures may require temperatures to be reduced to as low as -86A deg. C.

Centrifuges and microcentrifuges may need to stand on refrigerated and unrefrigerated tabletops for different purposes.

The heating devices may include a microwave, Bunsen burners, and/or hot plates.

There are a number of calibrated and measurement devices, apart from the glassware, that will be needed in a laboratory, such as certain plastic ware, micro balances and scales, pH meters, moisture meters and thermometers.

Microscopes or electron microscopes appropriate to the research being done, together with camera port and link to computer. These are a part of every laboratory.

There is a large number of apparatus and equipment generally considered essential for a molecular biology laboratory. Tissue processing for DNA identification is often an important part of molecular biology and many processes require the equipment for this, depending on the extent of DNA study and genomics. Here is some of the general apparatus likely to be needed:

* CO2 incubator for cell cultures.
* Vacuum pumps.
* Liquid nitrogen tank.
* Water bath.
* Magnetic stirrer.
* Spectrophotometer.
* Chromatograph.
* Vortex rotators and platform shakers.
* Autoclaves and sterilizers.
* Electrophoresis chamber and gel casting and documentation chamber.
* UV Transilluminator.
* Gradient and standard thermocycler to amplify segments of DNA.

Then we come to the question of safety and protection of the environment and of the people who work in the laboratory; and most of the following will normally be necessary:
Clothing such as:

* Aprons and lab coats.
* Coveralls.
* Footwear, such as shoe covers.
* Head covers, bouffant caps and face covers, masks.

Gloves:

* Heavy weight latex gloves.
* Thin, disposable latex gloves.
* Nitrile gloves.
* Cotton gloves.
* Vinyl gloves.

For eye protection there is a great variety of safety glasses, clear and tinted for lazer and UV work, as well as masks and face shields with and without respirators for protection against splashing, fumes and gasses and flying objects. It is important in a laboratory to install an eyewash station for emergencies.

Last but not least is all the equipment needed for cleaning and sterilizing the glassware, apparatus and even the clothing and furniture used in the laboratory. The cleaning of these items is not always straight forward, and some special procedures need to be followed. You need to have specially designed scrubbers and brushes as well as suitable cleaning fluids and preparations, among other things.

School Science Lab Equipment - What's Best In The Classroom?

What Should Be Allowed In School Science Labs?

Very often, one of the more exciting subjects for students to learn about in school is science. After all, while it can be pretty difficult to do any kind of exciting hands-on activity in a history, or literature, or math classroom, it is possible to demonstrate a number of different fascinating principles right there in the science classroom, provided that the school has the equipment handy. That way, instead of just learning about science in theory, the kids can experience the subject firsthand in a much more memorable and interesting way.

Of course, this kind of situation is necessarily limited by the equipment which is available in the classroom for the students and teachers to use, which begs an important question: what, exactly, should teachers have in their school science classrooms and/or labs? It is an important point to consider, because one the one hand having a lot of equipment around can be a fantastic resource for students who might otherwise not be extremely interested in science to get a chance to see unusual phenomena in action.

On the other hand having a lot of that kind of equipment can get expensive pretty fast, to say nothing of the fact that if we are not careful about deciding which equipment goes in the classroom, students might be dealing with more than they can handle, which can create a dangerous situation.

When we think of what sort of equipment there should be in an ideal science classroom, there is a lot to consider, because there are many different sciences. One of the first to consider is biology. In a biology classroom, it may be helpful to students to have sample of living things. This is a great opportunity to grow plants in the classroom, because students will enjoy watching them grow, and they are inexpensive. Also, unless the plants are poisonous, danger to the students is no concern.

Beyond that there is the question bringing creatures into the class. These can be trickier, but it is important not have anything that requires too much space or attention. Any animal that can live in an aquarium or terrarium, and can be safely left over a long weekend with some food and water, is probably fine.

Then there is the question of equipment in chemistry or physics classrooms. In these there is the potential for fire, or fumes, or a number of other dangerous situations that could arise if the students, or the teachers, are not careful. The best policy is one that maintains an optimal balance of safety, cost, and of course educational value. Although it is certainly tempting to wish for everything under the sun in your science lab, teachers must bear in mind which specific pieces of equipment will actually get used the most often and to greatest effect.

A well-equipped science classroom is a great resource, and as long as teachers and school administrators take the time to make informed decisions about the sort of equipment to buy, they should make every effort to get the best and most practical lab equipment possible.

3/15/2011