Design and testing of the thermal properties of the structure of an ultra high-throughput mutational spectrometer

Abstract

A process known as mutational spectrometry allows the detection of both single and multiple mutations that appear to be spontaneous, using a technique known as constant denaturing capillary electrophoresis (CDCE). CDCE requires a region of constant temperature and concentration of denaturant. A massively parallel, fully automated instrument, capable of handling as many as 10,000 DNA samples simultaneously, is suited to this technique. A modular structure of such a mutational spectrometer was designed to remain water-tight, provide an array to hold the capillaries for electrophoretic excitation, and modulate the flow of a heat transfer fluid. Six such modules were manufactured and assembled. As the heat transfer fluid passed through the assembled structure, the natural thermal loss was determined.