DNA Sequencing Minicore Facility

DNA测序迷你核心设备(MiniCore)旨在为NCI基础科学部门的研究人员提供对其DNA序列样本的快速处理。我们的目标是尽可能快速、高效地生成准确的数据。该设施由两台ABI 377棱镜自动DNA测序仪和相关的计算机、聚合酶链式反应机器和设备组成。这些机器能够以95%的准确率读取多达750个碱基对。专门分配给MiniCore的专业人员使其能够在研究人员实验室的专用机器上以几乎预期的速度生成数据。因此，我们减少了对这种专用机器的需要，这为该司节省了大量资金。该机构接受来自基础科学部任何成员的样本。我们目前列出了来自22个实验室的259名活跃用户。通常由用户进行测序反应，但我们也接受由MiniCore进行反应的DNA样本。通过限制我们提供的服务范围，我们专注于运营并优化性能。在过去的12个月里，我们已经处理了23498个样品，比前一年增加了56.5%。然而，我们的平均周转时间实际上已经从1.17天减少到0.68天(即从样品提交到样品被电泳化的加权平均工作日--应该额外增加一天，以便生成数据并发送给用户)。 该司补贴MiniCore的运营费用。该司的每个样品的实际成本和周转时间比从外部商业来源获得的要好得多。我们对每个样品的电泳费是8.5美元。对于每个提交进行反应和电泳的样本，额外收取12美元的费用。我们还支持多个用于PC和MacIntosh计算机的序列分析程序。这些程序向我们的用户社区免费提供。最后，我们还与用户互动进行故障排除，并参与设计和解释涉及DNA测序的实验

The DNA Sequencing Minicore Facility (MiniCore) is designed to provide investigators in the Division of Basic Science of the NCI with rapid processing of their DNA sequence samples. Our goal is to generate accurate data as rapidly and efficiently as possible. The facility consists of two ABI 377 Prism automatic DNA sequencers and associated computers, PCR machines and equipment. These machines are capable of reading up to 750 base pairs with 95% accuracy. A professional staff, assigned exclusively to the MiniCore, makes it possible to generate data almost as rapidly as could be expected with a dedicated machine in the investigator's laboratory. Thus we lessen the need for such dedicated machines, which results in significant savings for the Division. The facility accepts samples from any member of the Division of Basic Sciences. We currently list 259 active users from 22 laboratories. Usually the user does the sequencing reaction, but we also accept DNA samples for reactions by the MiniCore. By limiting the range of services we offer, we focus our operation and optimize performance. In the past 12 months we have processed 23498 samples, a 56.5% increase over the preceding year. Our average turnover time, however, has actually decreased from 1.17 to 0.68 days (i.e. the weighted average number of business days from sample submission to when the samples are electrophoresed - an extra day should be added to allow the data to be generated and sent to the user). The Division subsidizes the MiniCore's operating expenses. The actual per-sample cost to the Division, and the turnover time, are considerably better than can be obtained from external, commercial sources. We charge $8.50 for each sample electrophoresed. An additional $12.00 is charged for each sample submitted for reaction and electrophoresis. We also support several sequence analysis programs for both PC and MacIntosh computers. These programs are made available to our user community at no charge. Finally, we also interact with users for troubleshooting, and in the design and interpretation of experiments involving DNA sequencing