Evolutionary Genetics Lab
Many researchers in the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology collect genetic data to investigate the evolutionary history of the vertebrates they study. Knowing the genetic relationships of these species helps scientists to better understand patterns of speciation, evolutionary responses to changing environments, types of animal behavior and social systems, determinations of mate choice, routes and timing of migrations, and many other questions of vertebrate natural history.
The Museum and its affiliates in Integrative Biology and other departments share the Evolutionary Genetics Laboratory which occupies several rooms on the 4th floor of the VLSB. The lab is equipped for DNA extraction (historical as well as modern samples), PCR amplification, agarose gel electrophoresis, DNA sequencing, real-time PCR, microsatellite development and screening, library construction, cloning, and preliminary data analysis. Our major items of equipment include a thermocycler array, a digital imaging system for documenting agarose gels, a Nanodrop spectrophotometer, a StepOne Plus real-time instrument, and an ABI 3730 48-capillary automated sequencer.
Bench space in the EGL lab is open to students, postdocs, visiting researchers, curators, and faculty members in the MVZ and IB, as well as to outside departments when space is available. Supplies and equipment are shared. Lab users are recharged for consumables on a bimonthly schedule.
Our 3730 instrument is open to all UC Berkeley researchers who wish to prep their own sequencing or microsatellite reactions for analysis and can fulfill the training requirements to load samples onto the machine. Users are recharged for 3730 runs on a bimonthly schedule.
Some additional equipment may be available for the occasional use of researchers who are not members of the lab. Anyone interested in using these instruments may seek permission through the lab manager to access the facility.
Researchers interested in using the lab in any of the three areas outlined above should contact the lab manager, Lydia Smith. Please provide a brief description of your proposed work in the lab, including estimated duration of the project, equipment and supplies needed, names of individuals who will be working in the lab, and your funding source.
For more information, you may also consult the EGL website.