Abstract: A cassette for growth and treatment of cells having at least one container for cell culture growth, a cell culture media reservoir, a reagent reservoir, a waste container, and interconnecting tubes enabling connection with peristaltic pumps, wherein the cassette is detachable and movable as an entity. Also disclosed is an automated reagent delivery system for growth and treatment of cells, wherein the system includes at least one slide out drawer, at least two peristaltic pumps attached to the drawer, the cassette according to the invention attached to the drawer and connected with the peristaltic pumps, a computer controller and computer program product having means for manual and automatic control of liquid flow rates, output composition between the independent liquid reservoirs, pump control and execution of pre-set liquid flow programs, customization and saving of new automated liquid handling programs.

Abstract: The invention relates to modified polymerase enzymes which exhibit improved incorporation of nucleotide analogues bearing substituents at the 3? position of the sugar moiety that are larger in size than the naturally occurring 3? hydroxyl group. Also described are methods of using the polymerases to incorporate nucleotides into polynucleotides, particularly in the context of DNA sequencing.