The arrival of 2014 has seen the arrival of several new pieces of equipment in the Biology department that will enhance both classroom and research activity.  The new equipment is the result of ~$17,000 in total external funds awarded to the department from the National Science Foundation and the Genome Consortium for Active Teaching (GCAT).  First, the Enviro-Genie provides a controlled environment for heating, cooling, and incubating biological reagents:

It doesn’t slice or dice….but it DOES heat, cool, rotate, and rock!

Next, the Department has obtained a second PCR machine for the specific amplification of DNA segments of interest:

The original PCR machine reproduced!!

Finally, the Department now has a sophisticated method to document gels from DNA and RNA based experiments:

Ultraviolet photography in a safe environment

The new equipment lets the faculty in the Department integrate new and exciting experiments into their classes as well as their individual research projects.