Harlow LaboratoryServices - DF/HCC DNA Resource Core
Core Background
The Dana Farber/Harvard Cancer Center (DF/HCC) DNA Resource Core is housed at the Harvard Institute of Proteomics. The mission of the DNA Resource Core is to provide Harvard, Harvard Affiliates, and outside researchers with quality DNA sequencing services and sequence verified plasmid constructs, paired with comprehensive quality control and excellent customer support.
The use of DNA sequencing and plasmids is common to a wide variety of experimental applications in biological and biomedical research. DNA sequencing is regularly used as an assay for experimentation, including for the detection of subtle genetic differences and polymorphisms, and for verification of specifically engineered DNA constructs. Similarly, plasmids are used in a wide variety of assays, including cell-free and cell-based expression, cloning and sub-cloning of genes or fragments, and mutagenesis. The core was originally created to address the sequencing needs of cancer center members and researchers in the broader community, and continues to carry out this mission. Plasmid repository services were added in 2004 to reduce the burden on individual labs to store, maintain and distribute plasmid clones and supporting information.
DNA Sequencing Services
Li Chan (Core Coordinator)
Yili Li (Research Technician)
Simone Brown (Research Technician)
Ed Harlow (Core Director)
DNA Sequencing services include:
- Large (48 or more samples) and small-scale (<48 samples)DNA sequencing
- DNA Preparation in advance of DNA sequencing
- Sequencing turn-around time of 24 hours
- Sequence reads and quality control reports posted on a secure website
- No-charge re-runs of failed sequencing reactions
Over the past eight years, the Core has continued to grow and support the DF/HCC and Harvard community with attention to user-friendly service and quality control, and the Core currently provides outstanding DNA sequencing services at the lowest cost for a DNA sequencing center in the Boston area. Currently, the Core sequences close to 200,000 samples per year from researchers around the world. For more information or to request the DNA Sequencing services visit the DNA Sequencing Core Homepage.
PlasmID Repository Services
Glen Beeman (Coordinator)
Emilie Bydwell (Research Technician)
Dongmei Zuo (Bioinformaticist)
Ed Harlow (Core Director)
Plasmid Repository services include:
- Plasmid storage in an automated, quality-controlled freezer storage system
- Sequence validation of deposited plasmids
- Detailed annotation of plasmid data
- Storage of plasmid information supported by the Plasmid Information Database (PlasmID)
- Plasmid distribution through our website http://plasmid.med.harvard.edu/PLASMID
- Simplified distribution through our expedited MTA process
The Plasmid Information Database (PlasmID) currently contains over 270,000 plasmids, including collections produced by HIP, the Human ORFeome Consortium, the Protein Structure Initiative (PSI), as well as plasmids deposited by individual researchers. Besides storage of these plasmids in a state of the art automated freezer system, we also maintain a database containing detailed annotation of each plasmid that can be accessed by users through our website.
In 2006, we were selected to become the Protein Structure Initiative’s Material Repository (PSI-MR) with the mission of providing centralized storage, maintenance and distribution of plasmid clones produced by PSI researchers. Our goal is to collect these plasmids, fully sequence validate them and distribute them worldwide. We have nearly 14,000 PSI plasmids and their associated data available on PlasmID and are currently processing 25,000 PSI plasmids.
For more information about the PSI-MR visit our homepage. For more information about the PlasmID repository and how to order or deposit clones, please visit the PlasmID homepage.