What kind of laser does the FMBIO III use?

The FMBIO III and FMBIO III plus use solid state lasers only. A 50 mW solid-state 532 nm YAG laser. A10 mW solid state 635 nm laser and the only system to use a solid state 20 mW 488 nm laser. This is important because it is much more reliable than traditional gas ion lasers.

How quickly can you scan a multi-colored gel?

The FMBIO employs two photomultiplier tubes (PMTs) that collect data from two channels simultaneously. A 20 x 25 cm dual color scan is performed in three minutes.

Is the FMBIO capable of multicolor fluorescence scanning?

Yes! The FMBIO can detect fluorophores with emission wavelengths between 505 and 700 nm, providing multicolor capabilities useful in a wide variety of applications. It will scan up to 4 colors with one command using interchangeable filters and a software matrix to layer and separate the images.

Will the FMBIO read ABI dyes?

No problem. There is nothing optically special about these dyes. The FMBIO is capable of reading each of the dyes used in their four-color system. However, dye concentrations must be adjusted due to differences in detection technology. Please refer to the FMBIO dye chart for filter specifications.

Can the FMBIO detect Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP)?

Yes, GFP is quantitative over 3 orders of magnitude on the FMBIO.

Will the FMBIO scan phosphor screens?

Absolutely not! The FMBIO is a totally non-isotopic. In fact, the FMBIO is far more sensitive than some of the combination systems that claim to detect both radioactivity and fluorescence.

Is the FMBIO compatible with SYBR dyes?

Yes. The FMBIO II is compatible with both SYBR dyes. We suggest you use the 505 emission filter to detect samples labeled with SYBR Green, and a 585 emission filter to detect samples labeled with Gold.

Can the FMBIO scan EtBr samples?

The FMBIO is 10 to 50 times more sensitive than EtBr on a transilluminator. We suggest you use the 605-nm filter for EtBr detection.

Can I scan protein gels with the FMBIO?

You can use SYPRO Orange, SYPRO Red, or SYPRO Ruby (Molecular Probes, Eugene, Oregon). These are post-staining dyes with sensitivity higher than that of silver staining without the hassle and mess.

Can the FMBIO run sequencing gels?

The FMBIO has a scan area of 20 x 43 cm. This scan area is large enough to scan a full length sequencing gel.

Can the FMBIO scan differential display gels?

Yes, using the FMBIO requires that you run only one gel. Systems similar to the 377 require multiple gel runs-one gel to do the analysis (destructive) and a second gel for band extraction. With the FMBIO, you run one gel, scan, remove the top plate and place a printout under the plate, line up the areas of interest and excise.

Can I recover a band(s) from my gel after detection?

One benefit of post-electrophoresis detection is that the molecules of interest are easily accessible for further manipulation. By following our simple "overlay" procedure, virtually any band is excisable.

Is the FMBIO compatible with mutation detection techniques like DGGE and SSCP?

The FMBIO is the instrument of choice for mutation detection. Fluorescence eliminates the need for tedious staining procedures, and increases throughput with multiplexing.

Why is the FMBIO considered a high throughput instrument?

Since the FMBIO is not an integrated electrophoresis / detection system, multiple gels can be run and scanned sequentially.

Can the FMBIO scan 96, 384 and 1536-well microtiter plates based assays?

Microtiter plates of any capacity can be scanned, provided the bottom of the plate is flat, clear and the wells are black (to prevent well-to-well cross-talk).

Can I adjust the focal height of the detection optics to compensate for different media?

Yes. The proper height of the collection mirror can be quickly and easily optimized for a variety of media using the image acquisition software.

Can the FMBIO be used to scan microarrays?

Up to 48 multi-color meduim density DNA arrays can be interrogated simultaneously using the FMBIO.

What computer platform do you recommend for the FMBIO?

The FMBIO is compatible with Power Mac compatible computers and PCs. We recommend a computer with at least 64 MB RAM and at least a 500 MHz processor.

What kind of storage device do you recommend?

You can store your image files on any number of storage devices. We recommend one of the following for your lab:

• CD Writer
• Magneto Optical Disk Drive
• Zip Drive
• Jaz Drive

How large is a typical image file?

At standard resolution, a two color 20 cm x 25 cm gel is approximately 3 MB.

What does 16-bit mean?

Every pixel carries 16 bits of information, so that it would show one of 216 (65,536) shades of gray, allowing a wide dynamic range of signal representation.

What is the resolution of FMBIO?

The FMBIO III has user selectable resolution settings of 25, 50, 100, and 200um

How do I access the filters so I can change them?

In the ReadImage application, go to the FMBIO menu, and select "Eject filters".