Upholding the instruction of the respected Comrade
PCR analysis is one of advanced technologies widely used in all sectors related with organisms including breeding of a new variety, diagnosis of heredity and viral disease, distinction of spices in archaeology, inspection of genetic finger prints of criminals, making genome maps, discrimination of sexes of fetuses etc. In PCR analysis a PCR device is considered as a core.
PCR technology which was invented in 1980s has been propagated rapidly because of the accuracy and utility and PCR device has been developed quickly along with it.
The key technology in PCR analysis is to increase the number of a target gene by hundred thousands or millions, which will be realized if the temperature of tens of reaction tubes are changed in accordance with biological principles.
In other words, if the temperatures of three stages, around 55℃, 72℃ and 94℃ (exact temperature is a little different according to the purpose of PCR) is repeated every period (the period is from 1minutes to 2.5 minutes, which is a little different according to the purpose and objective), the target gene in reaction tubes will be increased in accordance with biological principles. Here what is important is to realize rapid rise and fall in temperature, and exact period in specific temperature.
In order to realize this purpose at the beginning, PCR device using a robot-arm method was invented and used and the method was that the frame stuck reaction tubers was put in and out the water of 55℃, 72℃and 94℃ for a necessary period, and then put in other water.
Then PCR device using air cyclic method has been newly developed so as to overcome the defect of the method and are several in kind.
Recently many kinds of PCR device such as High Speed PCR device, real-time PCR device has been developed, which is wedded with developing new reaction reagents.
PCR device is widely used in veterinary hospitals and general hospitals as well as institutes of biological engineering the PCR device which is widely produced and used now has an aluminum product where about 96 tubers can be stuck and some heating components and cooling components are set in the product to realize variation and maintenance of temperature.
Some temperature-feeling devices are set in order to evenly control the temperature of the aluminum product stuck tubers and some heating components and cooling components are individually controlled according to the signal of the devices.
Such PCR devices are expensive because they need sophisticated components and are complicated in control.
PCR technology depends on a variation of temperature, therefore it is very important to establish a new method of temperature control and reasonably organize a circular system of temperature where temperature of a reaction solution is directly controlled.
Hence we focused on realization of a circular system of temperature into direct heating/cooling system using air cyclic method, accurate maintenance of a given temperature and reduction of heating/cooling hours in making a new PCR device and experimented a characteristics of it.
Air Circulated Cooling PCR Device has a high-temperature room, a low-temperature room and a reaction room arranged tubers and when it is being heated, air of a high-temperature room is designed to flow into a reaction room and when it being is cooled, air of a low-temperature room into a reaction room. Temperature is maintained in way air of a high-temperature room is correctly mixed with that of a low-temperature room.
Advantages are as follows
First, when the temperature is transited, hot or cold air is flow through the surface of reaction tubers fast. So the temperature is varied fast.
Second, the surface of reaction tubers can evenly be heated and the temperatures of all tubers are equal and reaction efficiency is high.
Third, it doesn't need aluminum products and is simple in control and its production costs can be reduced to than usual device.
The advantages of newly produced PCR device using air cyclic method have been proved during many experiments.
We have been making an active contribution to developing core basic technologies including biological engineering by making the new PCR device which is faster in rise and fall of temperature because we reduced production cost of it and found the solution to rapid variation of temperature without solid cooling components and micromotors used in previous PCR device.
In the future we will continue to put spurs to research on advanced experimental equipments such as a new PCR device, cell fusion device and flew cytometer so as to play a role as a performer of developing advanced science and technology who the Party expects.
