The large scale services in existence for supporting cutting-edge research in the above themes are summarized here:
Models Species, Culture Collections and Databases
This heading include the curation of species with sequenced genomes (wild-type reference populations and mutant strains) and the development of tractable new model species for which varying degrees of genomic resources are available (e.g. from limited sequencing information to complete transcriptomes, end-sequenced BAC libraries and genetic linkage maps).
Further facilities include national culture collections and identification capabilities for algae, protozoans and plankton, National and international databases of genomic resources and marine biological information.
The requirement to integrate these various databases to extract further value for the marine community is being undertaken by EMBRC too.
Aquaria and experimental facilities (in-house and remote stations) including hosting facilities
Facilities include open-circulating seawater and freshwater aquaria systems, re-circulating and environmentally controlled aquaria (temperature, light, pH, gases), laboratory scale and field-site mesocosms, flumes, hyperbaric units and licensed large-animal holding and experimental facilities, specialised containment facilities for genetically modified organisms.
Diving facilities for scientific purposes (e.g. specimen collection, survey, hyperbaric units and pressure related research facilities) are also provided. Allied support facilities include service laboratories for visiting scientists and hotel facilities (private and in-house).
Research Vessels and Mobile Platforms
Dedicated Research vessels equipped for biological, geological, geophysical, glaciological, and chemical research, including ice-strengthened vessels for polar research. Container-borne laboratories and animal transport facilities are also available. Other facilities available include a variety of inshore boats for specialist sampling, animal capture and diving platforms. There are also remotely operated, semi-autonomous and towed platforms.
Research Platforms
High-Throughput Sequencing: Next generation sequencing platforms (e.g. Roche 454, Solexa Illumina, ABI Solid), oligonucleotide and spotted C-DNA micro-array platforms.
Protein Structure Determination: Robotic, cloning, protein expression, protein purification and crystallisation facilities; X-ray diffraction facilities for protein crystallography; Mass-spectrometry (e.g. Applied Biosystems Q-Star MS/MS, Micromass MALDI-TOF and LCT, LC ESI-MS/MS); Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (NMRS); Circular Dichroism Spectropolarimeter (CDS), Isothermal Titration Calorimeter (ITC), Electron Paramagnetic Resonance Spectrometers (EPRS)
Analytical Services: Gas Source Ratio Mass spectrometer, Atomic Absorption Mass Spectrometer
Bioinformatics: Next-generation sequence assembly, SNP discovery, microsatellite isolation, RNA-seq, RAD-sequencing, sequence annotation, tree construction, evolutionary analysis
Animal-borne and Animal Monitoring Platforms: Facilities for design and manufacture of ultra-low energy data loggers and relay systems (e.g. satellite-linked and GSM mobile phone); sensors for measuring acceleration (3D), temperature, depth, light level and physiological performance; development and fabrication of benthic instrument landers for long-term animal monitoring; development and implementation of software for visualisation and statistical analysis of movement data.
Functional Genomics Facilities: Facilities for the sterile culture of primary and transformed cell-lines, RNA-i, over-expression, and other in vitro functional genomic techniques. Micro-injection systems for the production of trans-genes and in vivo functional genomic analysis. Cell physiology, including electrophysiology.
Imaging: Scanning and transmission electron microscopes, fluorescence microscopy, laser scanning confocal microscopy, multiphoton and ultra-high resolution microscopy (including video and high-speed imaging), light microscopy (interference, polarization, DIC), flow cytometry and cell sorting, NMR imaging.
