Technical Services Facilities
Plant Tissue Culture and Transformation Facility
The Plant Tissue Culture and Transformation Facility is under the directorship of Dr. Maureen Hanson. The facility provides researchers with access to state of the art equipment and materials for the transfer of genes into plant, algal and fungal species. The Facility also provides instruction and assistance in the use of these procedures to investigators involved in the broad area of experimental transfer and analysis of genes and genomes.
Particle delivery system
A helium-driven PDS2000 particle delivery system, commonly known as the "gene gun," can be used to introduce DNA-coated tungsten or gold particles into plant, algal or fungal cells. The particle delivery system is particularly effective in those cell types that have a wall that must be penetrated. Using the particle gun, high efficiency transient expression and stable transformation have been achieved in a wide variety of plant species. The particle delivery system is the method of choice for transformation of organellar genomes.
Electroporation apparatus
The Facility has a Bio-Rad Gene Pulser with a capacitance extender and a pulse controller. This allows the duration and voltage of a pulse to be controlled over a wide range of conditions. This apparatus has been extensively used for high efficiency gene transfer into bacteria, plant and animal cells.
Pulsed field electrophoresis
Hexagonal electrophoresis units for separating very high molecular weight DNA are available in the Facility. These include two units from CBS Scientific as well as the CHEF DRIII and CHEF Mapper units from Bio-Rad. The CHEF Mapper includes internally programmed conditions for optimizing separation of DNA between any two sizes.
Olympus optical microscopes
An IMT2 inverted microscope with epifluorescence capability is available to monitor cells after bombardment or transformation.
Collection of plasmid DNAs and strains useful in plant transformation
The Facility maintains a small collection of plasmid and bacterial strains useful in plant transformation. Furthermore, a number of plant tissue culture lines are maintained and can be used for instruction and experimentation.
Laminar Flow Transfer Cabinets
The Facility has three Laminar Flow Transfer Cabinets for performing plant manipulations.
Services include:
- Consultation on gene delivery and analysis, and on molecular approaches to gene transfer projects in plants, algae and fungi
- Instruction in the use of the biolistic device, electroporator, and pulse-field gel electrophoresis apparatus
- Instruction in laboratory course sections and workshops related to plant gene transfer and genome analysis
- Distribution of BIBAC vectors and bacterial strains
How to obtain BIBAC vectors, strains, and information.
Contact:
Maureen Hanson, Director
E-Mail: mrh5@cornell.edu
Phone: 607-254-4833
Fax: 607-255-6249
