INSTITUTE - INFRASTRUCTURE

Laboratories

The IRBV and the Biodiversity Centre have extensive laboratory facilities. Two well-equipped undergraduate teaching laboratories are reserved for the training and research needs of the next generation of scientists. Individual laboratories as well as research greenhouses are available for experimental research projects. Several highly-specialized, shared laboratories feature state-of-the-art technology and equipment.

BIOCHEMISTRY LAB

The biochemistry laboratory is a shared facility with specialised equipment necessary for research experiments in molecular biology and biochemistry. Standard molecular biology equipment includes ultracentrifuges, incubators, ice makers, ultra-low-temperature freezers and a gel dryer system. Highly-specialised equipment essential for diverse research activities in plant molecular biology includes a spectrophotometer, HPLC, scintillation counter, freeze dryers, gel imaging system, centrifugal evaporator (Speed-Vac), French press and flow cytometer.

BIOCHEMISTRY LABOR

The biochemistry laboratory is a common-use laboratory that includes specialized equipment for molecular biology and biochemical analyses. In addition to the basic equipment necessary for research in molecular biology (-80°C freezers, ice machine, incubators, ultracentrifuges, gel dryer, etc.), there are also several specialized devices: spectrophotometer, HPLC, counter scintillation, freeze dryer, imaging system, evaporator, French press, flow cytometry device.

IN VITRO CULTURE LAB

Person in charge: Denis Lauzer

The in vitro culture laboratory is used by researchers and students who, for their work, need to culture plant material under aseptic conditions in a controlled environment. We therefore find the necessary equipment to carry out all the stages of the in vitro culture of plants:

  • a culture media preparation room (glassware, culture vessels, chemicals, scales, pH meter, microwave oven, media dispenser, hot plates and stirrers, etc.);
  • a transfer room (laminar flow hoods, binocular magnifiers, orbital shaker, etc.);
  • five culture rooms with shelves (with temperature and photoperiod control).

HIGH THROUGHPUT ANALYSIS LAB

The Biodiversity Center has a state-of-the-art laboratory complex allowing, for example, the culture and rapid identification of numerous microbial species and the high-throughput analysis of biological and environmental samples.

This 320 m2 complex is subdivided by function: a sample reception and preparation room, an extraction laboratory, an isolation laboratory (including a level 2 biological containment room), two molecular biology laboratories (pre -PCR and post-PCR), several service units (laundry room, chemical store, storage rooms) and incubation and conservation units.

The laboratory has several equipment for the isolation and incubation of microorganisms: soil sieving apparatus, culture shakers, ovens, biological incubators, laminar flow hoods including class II biological containment enclosures, automated filling system Petri dishes.

For the molecular characterization of the samples, numerous equipments are available: devices for the grinding of the samples, robots (EVO 100 and EVO 150) of manipulation of liquids for the extraction of DNA/RNA, the preparation of PCR and the purification of samples, real-time quantitative PCR devices, gradient PCR devices, microplate readers, Li-cor sequencer for genotyping, gel documentation system and high throughput electrophoresis systems.

TEACHING LABS

The IRBV has two laboratories dedicated solely to teaching. The first (40 places) is located in the premises of the IRBV in the main building of the Botanical Garden. The second (50 places) is located at the Center on Biodiversity. It is in these laboratories that all the practical work of the plant biology courses of the bachelor in biological sciences of the Université de Montréal given at the IRBV take place.

The teaching laboratories of the IRBV have all the necessary equipment for carrying out practical work in plant biology courses. They are equipped with modern equipment used for practical work in in vitro culture, plant physiology, molecular biology and biotechnology (laminar flow hoods, spectrophotometers, centrifuges, precision balances, thermal cyclers, microscopes, binoculars, electrophoresis tanks , micropipettes, etc.). There is also a teaching herbarium and a large collection of microscopic preparations which are used for practical work in floristics, systematics, anatomy and development courses.

Theoretical courses are given in the IRBV classroom in the main building of the Botanical Garden (40 places) or in the amphitheater of the Center on Biodiversity (85 places).

RESEARCH GREENHOUSES AND GROWTH CHAMBERS

A modular greenhouse complex comprising eight greenhouses totaling nearly 600 m2 is available for experimentation. The control of environmental parameters is programmable and an adjoining service laboratory includes several small pieces of equipment useful for setting up experiments or taking data.

Ten growth chambers are available for carrying out experiments requiring careful control of environmental parameters.

Institut de recherche en biologie vegetale.

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