What the facility does
Environmental genomics research on tissue and environmental DNA and RNA samples
Areas of expertise
DNA, RNA, and transcriptomic processing from tissue or environmental samples through to analysis.
The Environmental Genomics Facility (EGF) is a research lab at the Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research Facility at the University of Windsor. This lab is one of four central facility labs operating at GLIER.
Research services
DNA extraction and quantitation (fluorescence-based, gel-based, Bioanalyzer, etc.), polymerase chain reaction (PCR), quantitative Real-Time PCR (including both SYBR Green and custom TaqMan OpenArray technology), Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS), and fragment analysis.
Sample preparation and analysis can also be completed in the facility.
Sectors of application
- Environmental technologies and related services
- Fisheries and aquaculture
- Ocean industries
Specialized labs and equipment
| Equipment | Function |
|---|---|
| ThermoFisher AccuFill Automated Liquid Handler | Robotically loads all TaqMan OpenArray chips used for real-time qPCR analysis |
| Agilent 2100 Bioanalyzer | Used to check the quantity and quality of DNA and RNA samples |
| ThermoFisher Ion GeneStudio S5 | Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) platform used to perform NGS runs |
| ThermoFisher Ion Torrent Ion Chef System | Robotically loads the Ion chips used on the Ion GeneStudio S5 |
| PerkinElmer Victor3 V Multilabel Plate Reader | A 12-filter plate-based reader, mostly used to quantitate DNA at high levels. Can also be used for ELISA and other fluorescence/absorbance-based assays. |
| ThermoFisher ProFlex PCR System -Thermal Cycler | Performs PCR on up to 96 samples at a time |
| ThermoFisher QuantStudio 12K Flex Real-Time PCR System | A 3-block system used to perform qPCR on either 96-well plates, 384-well plates, or OpenArray chips. Compatible with both SYBR Green and TaqMan chemistries. |
| ThermoFisher SeqStudio | Utilizes dye-labeled PCR products to identify alleles, SNPs, and microsatellites for population genetics studies |
| Tecan Freedom Evo 150 Liquid Handler (2) | Automatically extracts DNA from up to 192 digest samples at a time through multiple different DNA extraction methods |
| Tecan Spark Plate Reader | Plate-based reader for fluorescence and absorbance assays |
Private and public sector research partners
- Department of Fisheries and Oceans
- University of Northern British Columbia
- University of Waterloo
- Hatfield Consultants
- Yellow Island Aquaculture Ltd.
Additional information
| Title | URL |
|---|---|
| Game Changer: Largest DNA survey of fish launched at UWindsor | https://windsorstar.com/news/local-news/game-changer-largest-dna-survey-of-fish-launched-at-uwindsor |
| Research network angling to conserve fish | https://www.uwindsor.ca/dailynews/2019-12-09/research-network-angling-conserve-fish |