During January of 2021, 5 units of “Suitcase Lab” previously introduced in our web sites (https://mge.hiroshima-u.ac.jp/SATREPS_MACH/en/topics/news/20201119_1478/), finally have arrived to Chile from Japan to boost our research and outreach activities.
The Suitcase Lab, as we call it, consists of an all-in-one portable field tool that allows extract DNA from a sample of seawater containing microalgae. The extracted DNA will be used to amplify DNA fragments that are unique and distinctive to the species, so the algal species in the water sample can be identified with tools inside the suitcase lab.
Currently, the 5 units are still in an experimental and validation phase at La Frontera University, given that the suitcases will be available to each of the Chilean institutions participating in the project, Fisheries Development Institute (IFOP), Los Lagos University and Antofagasta University. Each suitcase will be used at site for research purposes and respective outreach activities, jointly coordinated with MACH members.
The purpose of the Suitcase Lab is both for research and monitoring purposes by professionals and technicians, and of course, for dissemination activities towards different target audiences.
In addition, it is expected to develop workshops, tutorial videos and protocols that will be free and of open access for users interested in the suitcase lab.
For scientific/technical information on how the suitcase lab works, please click here for the detail.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-020-11567-5
