Abstract: A method in which a temperature gradient is generated across a “gradient” block, and an apparatus comprising a block across which a temperature gradient can be generated. By setting up such a gradient, multiple reaction mixtures held in wells on the gradient block can be simultaneously run at temperatures which differ only slightly, thereby permitting an optimum temperature for the reaction to be quickly identified. In a preferred embodiment the gradient block is integrated into a thermal cycler used for nucleic acid amplification reactions.

Abstract: A tissue culture chamber is disclosed. The chamber is a casing that provides for growth of three-dimensional tissue, and more specifically for the growth of skin tissue, that can be grown, preserved in frozen form, and shipped to the end user in the same aseptic container. The tissue culture chamber includes a casing comprising a substrate within the casing designed to facilitate three-dimensional tissue growth on the surface of the substrate. The casing includes an inlet and an outlet port which assist the inflow and outflow of media. The casing also includes at least one flow distributor. In one embodiment, the flow distributor is a baffle, which is used to distribute the flow of the media within the chamber to create a continuous, uniform piece of three-dimensional tissue. In a second embodiment, the flow distributor is a combination of deflector plates, distribution channels, and a flow channel.