Dick:
Constantly leaking MOSS valves, extra tubing that is a heavy burden for the
main unit's valves, frequently clogged MOSS lines, aberrant trityl monitor
readings (such as fine trityls for bad oligos, and trityl failures for
excellent oligos), poor quality of the synthesized DNA, decreased valve
life, daily fixes and repairs - this is our bad experience with MOSS. Two
years ago, when we were still trying to run it, we had to write a program to
save the trityl data, because only the most recent two syntheses were seen
on the bar graphic. Also, your PC's operating system must be very reliable
(which is hard to say for Windows 95 or 98), because if the computer freezes
during the unattended synthesis, the machine will not synthesize any oligos
afterwards (every consecutive oligo is uploaded from the computer to the
machine only after the previous one is finished).
The end result is that instead of increasing your unattended synthesis
capacity from 2 to 16 columns, you may end up being afraid to leave your
Expedite unattended even when only 1 column is attached.
Best regards,
victor
www.alphadna.com
Disclaimer: All of the above is my personal opinion, which has nothing to
do with the company I am working for.
v.o.
-----Original Message-----
From: Association of Biomolecular Resource Facilities
[mailto:abrf-request@aecom.yu.edu]On Behalf Of Richard F. Cook
Sent: March 16, 2001 10:12
To: Recipients of ABRF List
Subject: DNA Synth: ABI 8909 Expedite w/ MOSS..opinions needed
Dear ABRFers,
Someone on my campus is considering the following instrument to do PNA and
DNA synthesis.
If anyone has any opinions, I'd appreciate them.
------------------------------------------------------------
".... trying to find someone familiar with the Applied Biosystems Expedite
8909 Nucleic Acid Synthesizer. The
Expedite with the PNA option can execute the PNA protocol as well as
existing DNA/RNA protocols. The MOSS option that we are interested in
expands the column capacity from two to sixteen. We are interested in
purchasing this instrument but were a little suprised when the vendor told
us the MOSS option, although still supported, was no longer being made.
There are a few MOSS options left and if we decide we want one we will
purchase one.
I am primarily interested in its reliabilty and any insight as to why ABI
stopped its production."
-----------------------------------------------------------
Thanks in advance.
Dick
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b29 : Mon Apr 02 2001 - 10:20:49 EDT