Abstract: A multiple electrophoresis method and apparatus for migrating and transferring macromolecules in a vessel (10) containing a plurality of parallel elongate electrodes (14), membranes (22) disposed vertically in the vessel between the columns of electrodes (14), and an electrophoresis gel which is inserted in the vessel in liquid form and which is subsequently solidified to perform electrophoresis. When the electrophoresis is completed, the gel is liquefied, dissolved, or decomposed, and the membranes (22) onto which the macromolecules have been transferred are withdrawn from the vessel.

Abstract: A process of separating plasmids and cosmids from bacterial cells in which they are contained, comprising adding cultured bacterial cells separated from a culture medium to an inclusion gel-forming substance; lysing the bacterial cells; solubilizing the thus lysed bacterial cells; solidifying the inclusion gel-forming substance to form a gel either before or after the step of solubilizing; and applying an electric field to the thus formed gel sufficient to cause electrophoretic migration of the plasmids and cosmids and isolation of the plasmids and cosmids. Also disclosed is a device for carrying out the process.

Abstract: A cell culture device is disclosed where cells are confined in a liquid medium within a cell culture space. The cell culture space is delimited by at least three selectively permeable walls. One wall is formed by a sheet of tubes and is permeable to fresh nutrient medium, the second wall is formed of a layer of capillaries and is permeable to gaseous fluids, and the third wall acts as a micron sieve that allows the passage of spent nutrient medium, but retains the cells within the cell culture space. The cell culture device makes it possible to produce culture products, continuously and in bulk over a long period of time.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for high speed temperature regulation of elements (12) in thermal contact with a fluid contained in liquid-vapor equilibrium inside an enclosure (10) which is closed in sealed manner and which is provided with thermal insulation, temperature regulation being provided by means of an external heat source (S) imposing a reference temperature (Tc) to the fluid contained inside the enclosure (10) and causing a corresponding variation in the temperature (Te) of the elements (12) by changing the phase of the fluid. The invention is particularly applicable to performing molecular biology reactions at controlled temperature.

Abstract: The filtration apparatus comprises a bundle of porous filtering elements (12) which are disposed over a certain length of a casing (2) and over a substantial part of its cross-section, and at least one assembly of ultrasonic transducers (15) disposed in at least one cross-sectional plane of the casing regularly spaced at its periphery. Each of the transducers is placed within an opening passing through the casing in a direction perpendicular to the axis of the casing. Ultrasonic waves are emitted within the casing in the direction of the bundle of filtering elements in a zone delimited by a cone, the axis of which extends in a direction perpendicular to the filtering elements and the vertex of which is located in the vicinity of the wall of the casing. The particles torn out by the ultrasonic waves from the filtering elements are recovered by an evacuation conduit (8). The invention is applicable, in particular, to the treatment of fluid used in the nuclear industry, and of other dangerous products.