The Department of Biology
Research laboratories and other facilities:
The Environmental Science laboratories
located in the basement of the J.R. Brodie Science Bldg
An Olympus fluorescence microscopy suite, including a BX51 microscope with DIC and digital imaging camera and software, and an Olympus MVX microscope with digital imaging camera and software. An additional BX41 microscope wit digital imaging and a stereo-microscope are available for student research.
Extensive analytical instrumentation, including:
- A Varian inductively coupled plasma optical emission system to determine metals, phosphorus, potassium, and trace elements in soil and plant samples;
- An Astoria 2 segmented flow auto-analysis system to determine nitrate, ammonium, and other ionic species in fluid samples;
- Leco Truspec CN furnace to determine total carbon and nitrogen in solid soil and plant samples;
- Shimadzu TOC-TN system to determine total organic carbon and total nitrogen in fluid samples and availability of these elements to microorganisms in solution samples;
- Ultraspec 3100 pro spectrophotometer with sipper.
- 2 Conviron PGV36 controlled environment walk-in growth chambers with pCO2 (ambient to 2990ppm), temperature (4 - 45șC) and light control (timed diurnal on/off and irradiance up to 1400”moles), with 3.3m2 of growing area (2m height).
The Mycology Research Laboratory
The Mycology Research Laboratory is a Level II Containment facility housing equipment to characterize vertebrate-associated microfungi. It is equipped for faculty conducting research in molecular systematics and includes the following CFI-funded infrastructure:
- Applied Biosystems 3100 Genetic Analyzer
- Applied Biosystems GeneAmp PCR 9700 Thermocyclers (2)
- Labconco Freeze Drier
- Forma Biosafety Cabinet
- IEC Centra Refrigerated Centrifuge
- IEC Refrigerated Microcentrifuge
- The following infrastructure is housed in the labs of other faculty or in the shared service area:
- Nikon Eclipse E400 Fluorescent Compound Microscope (Ahmad laboratory)
- Forma Incubator Shaker (Ardelli laboratory)
- Geringe Castle Autoclave (shared services)
- Scotsman Ice Machine (shared services)
- Synegene GeneGenius Gel Documentation System (shared services)
The Functional Genomics Laboratory
The functional genomics facility is equipped for faculty engaged in basic and clinical research in areas of gene expression and genotyping. The facility contains a variety of tools for performing genomic studies including a Rotor-Gene? 6000.
Applications such as gene expression analysis, determination of viral load, detection of genetically modified organisms, single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) analysis, genotyping and allelic discrimination are possible.
As well, the laboratory is dedicated to the support of in vitro cell culture and contains a biological safety cabinet that is certified to handle agents requiring a level 2 biocontainment.
Dr. Mark Berry in the Dept. of Chemistry at BU sometimes supervises student projects in the Dept. of Biology through his CFI-funded neurobiology laboratory. Dr. Jackson (Biology) also has interests in neurobiology.
The Department also has a boat for work on waterways, aquaria and a breeding colony of zebrafish (Danio rerio), and equipment for ecological research and environmental sampling (limnology, forest and grassland ecology, environmental measurements).
Departmental members may also use facilities at the Churchill Northern Studies Centre in northern Manitoba, and use facilities at the Brandon Research Station (Agriculture & Agri-Foods Canada) through collaborations with researchers at the BRS.
Field-based research opportunities are available 20km south of the campus at the Brandon Hills Wildlife Management Area, 60km east at Spruce Woods Provincial Park, and 100km north in Riding Mountain National Park.