The Molecular Laboratory at the Ecology Centre

Page reviewed:  05/05/2025

Molecular methods are a prerequisite for many research studies. Therefore, we have a modern molecular laboratory at the Ecology Centre, primarily for researchers at SLU but also available to external users.

Molecular methods can reveal ecological relationships that were previously impossible to study. For example, it is possible to identify which species are on the menu for predatory insects or which flowers have been visited by pollinators.

The Department of Ecology and the Department of Crop Production Ecology share the Molecular Laboratory at the Ecology Centre. The laboratory is primarily intended for SLU staff, but external users are also welcome.

How to access the laboratory

Contact us if you are interested. All users of the laboratory pay a bench fee. This fee includes an introduction to the laboratory, access to all equipment, and support and advice from technical staff. It also covers certain consumables. Users pay for project-specific consumables, such as DNA extraction kits and PCR chemicals.

The machine park

  • 2 QIAcubes, extraction robots from QIAGEN with capacity for 12 samples per run
  • 2 CFXconnect Real-Time PCR machines from Bio-Rad
  • 1 T100 Thermal cycler, PCR machine from Bio-Rad
  • PCR workstation with UV light
  • 1 plate pourer, for up to 400 plates
  • 1 Autoclave, 160 L Laboklav
  • 1 Ice machine
  • 1 NanoDrop
  • 1 Qubit 4 fluorometer from Invitrogen
  • 1 Elga Purelab Pharma compliance – Ultrapure water, Type I*
  • 1 GelDoc XR+,Bio-Rad, for analyses of GelRed stained agarose gels
    Equipment for running agarose gel electrophoresis
  • 1 Super homogenizer from Bertin technologies
  • 1 MixerMill 400 Retsch
  • 1 Sigma 4-16S centrifuge for both 15 ml and 50 ml tubes
  • Heating blocks, small centrifuges, a water bath, pH meter and equipment for agarose gel runs.
  • 1 Refrigerated Microcentrifuge; Fisherbrand™ accuSpin™ Micro 21R, 12 x 2mL samples

There are also a few incubators and warming cabinets of various sizes.

Contact