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Three new DNA markers have been developed to allow sizing and quantitation of linear and supercoiled, double-stranded DNA. The Kb DNA Ladder contains 15 linear fragments from 250 bp to 12 kb. Bands are produced in 1,000-bp increments from 1 kb to 10 kb. The ends of each fragment have 5_ overhangs and may be radiolabeled with a-labeled dATP, dTTP, or dUTP. Alternatively, the ladder may be radiolabeled by exchanging the 5_ phosphate using T4 polynucleotide kinase and g-labeled rATP. The Illuminator Kb DNA is a version of the Kb DNA Ladder that has been prelabeled with fluor-12-dUTP for use with the Illuminator nonradioactive detection system. The Supercoiled DNA Ladder produces bands from 2 kb to 10 kb at 1-kb increments. Stratagene, La Jolla, CA Circle No. 126 on Reader Service Card ------ The DS-1 Balance Draft Shield is designed to protect samples from air currents during weighing with sensitive balances. The shield encloses the balance and is equipped with a hinged front door for direct access to the weighing pan and controls. A 3-inch hole on the top lid allows for sample dispensing when the lid shield is in place. A collar on the back of the shield is available for exhaust ventilation. Airfiltronix Corp., Clifton, NJ Circle No. 127 on Reader Service Card ------ The FP 1000 Visualization System incorporates a high-resolution charge-coupled device (CCD) camera with a 600 nm filter, a 256 gray-scale thermal printer, a monochrome 9-inch monitor, and a low-profile darkroom with a viewing port for electronic, instant photography of stains, wet gels, and audioradiograms. The companion PHD 2000 Documentation System allows digital storage and archiving of photographed images on a 3.5-inch floppy diskette. It also provides for serializing and dating stored images as well as image enhancement. Ultra-Lum Inc., Carson, CA Circle No. 128 on Reader Service Card ------ The Personal Microcentrifuge, measuring 6H** x 6H**, reportedly achieves a full operating speed of 14,000 x g within three seconds. Designed for quick spins at any workstation, including the coldroom, the centrifuge can be used for nucleic acid preparation, protein separation, polymerase chain reaction product sedimentation, binding studies, and a variety of microchemical determinations. It is available in three capacities (6 x 1.5 ml, 12 x 1.5 ml, and 24 x 0.5 ml) and a selection of fixed-angle rotors. Sun BioScience Inc., Branford, CT Circle No. 129 on Reader Service Card ------ The VWRbrand sterile syringe filter uses a surfactant-free cellulose acetate membrane in a modified acrylic housing. Its applications include sterilization of aqueous solutions, biological and immunological samples, and cell-culture media components as well as filtration of sera, antibodies, buffers, and tissue-culture media. The filter is available in 0.2 mm and 0.45 mm pore sizes and is certified sterile, noncytotoxic, and nonpyrogenic. VWR Scientific, Philadelphia, PA Circle No. 130 on Reader Service Card ------ The PerpHecT line of pH meters and electrodes gives users fully temperature-compensated pH measurements without a separate temperature probe, according to the manufacturer. The meters feature LED displays and tactile keypads as well as auto-buffer recognition. Three models are available. Model 310 provides basic pH and temperature measurements. Model 330 adds an mV mode for ORP measurement and RS232C output capability. Model 370 gives direct ISE (ion) concentration measurement plus mV and relative mV capabilities. With the PerpHecT ROSS electrodes, the meters can compensate pH measurements for both Eo and Nernstian temperature effects. Analytical Technology Inc., Boston, MA Circle No. 131 on Reader Service Card ------ The ConcertChrom Series HPLC System includes an isocratic and quaternary pump system, a diode array, UV-Vis and fluorescence detectors, autosamplers, an integrator, and a PC-based data station. The system's four modules are designed to be stacked in a 10-inch-wide tower configuration. Its software runs on the Windows NT operating system, providing a security logbook and networking capabilities. Hitachi Instruments Inc., San Jose, CA Circle No. 132 on Reader Service Card ------ The Model 8500 Series ultra-low-temperature freezers use nonchlorofluorocarbon (CFC), nonhydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFC), non-flammable refrigerants to maintain _867C tem-peratures. Both the chest and upright models incorporate a variety of new enhancements, including the internal PEAK Control System to protect compressors; 50 percent larger condensers for heat removal; front-to-back airflow through the compressor housing; and a reusable polyester foam filter. Forma Scientific Inc., Marietta, OH Circle No. 133 on Reader Service Card ------ The HP ChemStation software package is a Windows-based program that provides control, automation, and data handling for up to four instruments, including the company's gas chromatograph (GC), liquid chromatograph (LC), and capillary electrophoresis (CE) systems. An analog-to-digital (A/D) interface option is available for acquiring data from non-HP instruments. The software enables users to both acquire and analyze data from HP GC, LC, CE, and A/D systems. The software is a standard reporting package; researchers with custom requirements can use the ChemStation custom report generator or Dynamic Data Exchange to export data to other Microsoft Corp. packages for reporting. The ChemStore software package for sample organization and results storage is optional. Hewlett-Packard Co., Palo Alto, CA Circle No. 134 on Reader Service Card ------ PolyATtract Series 9600 mRNA Isolation Systems provide a means to isolate amplification-quality mRNA for developmental and tissue-specific screening purposes from milligram quantities of plant and animal tissues or less than 105 cells per sample. The systems facilitate the simultaneous isolation of polyadenylated mRNA from up to 96 tissue extracts or cell lysates. A 96-pin magnetic separation array is used in the purification process. Two systems are available: One contains M-MLV Reverse Transcriptase and other reagents for conversion of the mRNA to cDNA directly in the wells of the plate; the other lacks these reagents to accommodate researchers who prefer to synthesize cDNA by other means. Promega Corp., Madison, WI Circle No. 135 on Reader Service Card ------ The Eppendorf Micro Centrifuge Model 5417, now available through Brinkmann Instruments, offers a choice of three interchangeable, autoclavable rotors with lid: a standard, 24-place, fixed-angle rotor; a 24-place aerosol-tight rotor; and a 12-place swing-bucket rotor. The 24-place models hold tubes from 0.25 ml to 2 ml or 12 aerosol-tight capsules. For use in the lab or coldroom, the centrifuge has a programmable selection of speeds up to 14,000 rpm and g-force settings up 20,800 x g.Brinkmann Instruments Inc., Westbury, NY Circle No. 136 on Reader Service Card ------ The LIVE/DEAD BacLight Viability Kit uses fluorescent dyes that distinguish bacteria with intact plasma membranes from dead bacteria with compromised membranes. Live bacteria fluoresce green, while dead cells fluoresce red. Bacteria can be viewed directly after the dye mixture is applied without washing or destaining steps. The stained bacteria retain staining specificity and intensity after treatment with glutaraldehyde or formaldehyde fixatives. The kit may be used to determine viability of bacteria in mixed-cell populations and in samples that contain other cell types, including eukaryotic cells. The proportion of live and dead bacteria in a suspension may also be quantitated with a fluorometer, fluorescence microplate reader, or flow cytometer. Molecular Probes Inc., Eugene, OR Circle No. 137 on Reader Service Card ------ The UniLab Cleanroom, capable of achieving Class 100 air quality, is available in hard wall or soft vinyl curtain models in a selection of standard sizes or custom configurations. The UniMax Hazardous Containment Enclosure is designed to isolate toxic and hazardous substances from the work area or lab. It features ventilation and filtration systems in conjunction with grated flooring and secondary containment basins. HEMCO Corp., Independence, MO Circle No. 138 on Reader Service Card ------ The Bio-Rad PowerPac 3000 has an output of 3,000 V, 400 mA, and 400 W. It offers three modes of operation in constant voltage, current, or power: manual mode for timed, volt-hour, or continuous runs; program mode for more demanding methods with up to nine separate steps; and temperature mode for electrophoresis at a set constant temperature. Each mode is programmable via menu-driven user interface and graphics LCD. Bio-Rad Laboratories, Hercules, CA Circle No. 139 on Reader Service Card ------ The Nanoject Auto/Oocyte Injector is microprocessor-controlled and equipped with a nonrotating plunger. It is available in a standard 46-nanoliter fixed-volume model or a 16-step, 4.6- to 73.6-nanoliter variable-volume design. Attachable to most micromanipulators, the Nanoject is supplied with enough glass capillaries to pull 300 tips. Drummond Scientific Co., Broomall, PA Circle No. 140 on Reader Service Card ------ The LITMUS Cloning Vectors are phagemid vectors for cloning, mutagenesis, and in vitro transcription. They feature universal sequencing primer sites; a pUC-derived plasmid backbone; M13 origin for single-stranded mutagenesis template production; blue/white selection; ampicillin resistance; and polylinkers containing 32 unique restriction sites that represent all commercially available 4-base extensions. They also contain a system for generating RNA probes in either direction using only T7 RNA polymerase. New England Biolabs, Beverly, MA Circle No. 141 on Reader Service Card ------ Bio-S and Bio-RP are two new prepacked columns and chemistries from the Bio-Protocol line. The columns are available in 10 mm, 20 mm, and 50 mm particle sizes. Bio-S is a strong cation exchange media that provides high dynamic capacity, resolution, and throughput for protein purification. Bio-RP is a mildly hydrophobic reverse-phase media for use in initial capture steps and in final polishing processes. The mild hydrophobicity reportedly minimizes use of organic solvents while retaining a high degree of selectivity and resolution. Cohesive Biotechnologies, Acton, MA Circle No. 142 on Reader Service Card

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