The U.S. Department of Energy has donated an Applied Biosystems 7000 Sequence Detection System to the Texas A&M University-Texarkana College of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics through the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in Livermore, California.

“The ABI 7000 is a real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) that will allow the faculty at A&M-Texarkana to incorporate new instructional exercises with the equipment to prepare our students for future careers, propose new research projects for external funding, and allow for a connection with the DOE for future funding projects,” said Dr. David Reavis, interim dean of the College of STEM in a press release.

Sometimes called "molecular photocopying," PCR is a tool used to copy small segments of DNA and is applicable to many fields in biology and related sciences.

“PCR is used every single day to diagnose illnesses, identify bacteria and viruses, process evidence from crime scenes and in many other ways,” Dr. Reavis said. “The equipment will allow our students to learn about genetic sequencing with a hands-on approach.”

The Laboratory Equipment Donation Program was established by the U.S. Department of Energy to grant surplus and available used energy-related laboratory equipment to universities and colleges in the United States for use in energy-oriented educational programs.

Dr. Reavis’s proposal for the Applied Biosystems 7000 Sequence Detection System, originally purchased by the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory for $43,540.73, was accepted on Jan. 12.

 

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