DNA Resource Core

The DNA Resource Core was started in the spring of 1999 to meet a growing need for DNA sequencing services at a cost that is affordable for academic labs.  Our services now include DNA sequencing for large- and small-scale projects and a plasmid repository & distribution service.  Our highest priorities are quality assurance, user support and timely request fulfilment.

About the Core DNA Sequencing Service

Key features of DNA sequencing services:

• On-line ordering and data retrieval at DNA LIMS
• Daily sample pick-up Monday through Friday from five drop-off locations in three areas in Boston/Cambridge
• Typically, 24-hour turn-around from sample pick-up to data availability

Sequencing Equipment and Facility

DNA sequencing is supported by two ABI 3730xl machines and data can be retrieved via secure on-line login at DNA LIMS.  The core facility is located at the Harlow Lab, a group with extensive experience in automation, informatics, plasmid clone production, sequencing and analysis, and more.

About the Plasmid Repository

Key features of plasmid storage & distribution services:

• On-line information and ordering at PlasmID
• Scientifically curated information and careful quality analysis of samples
• Storage as glycerol stocks in a fully-automated freezer storage system
• Over 300,000 full length open reading frame (ORF) cDNAs and short hairpin RNAs (shRNAs) available

Repository Facilities

The plasmid repository is supported by the in-house developed Oracle database PlasmID and state-of-the-art automated equipment for single colony isolation, liquid handling and low temperature storage. 

Please see the Services and Pricing pages for more information.

The DNA sequencing core facility sequences samples from DF/HCC researchers as well as researchers from other universities throughout the United States and as far away as Costa Rica! 

Thus far, the plasmid repository has distributed constructs to approximately 500 research groups at over 120 universities and institutes in the United States and 100 universities abroad.  This includes almost 150 researchers in the Boston area alone!

PUBLICATION ACKNOWLEDGEMENT: If research supported by this core facility results in publication, please acknowledge this support by including the following in your publication(s):

We thank Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center in Boston, MA, for the use of the DNA Resource Core, which provided __________ service. Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center is supported in part by an NCI Cancer Center Support Grant # NIH 5 P30 CA06516.  

Sequencing Homepage 

Sequencing Login 

PlasmID