Abstract: The present invention relates to the electrophoretic separation of bio-organic molecules using a slab gel electrophoresis apparatus having a pair of spaced, confronting plates defining a multi-lane separation zone adapted to hold a separation medium and an upper loading zone. In one aspect of the invention, at least one of the plates is shaped to provide an expanded loading zone. The plate-to-plate distance within the expanded loading zone is greater than the plate-to-plate width within the separation zone. In another aspect of the invention, a comb is provided with each tooth having a gradual taper beginning at a support member and extending along most of the tooth's longitudinal axis, and a sharp taper beginning immediately beyond the gradual taper and extending to the end of the tooth.

Abstract: An automatic infinitesimal liquid reactor equipped with a pipetter for dispensing reagents employs two stages which are capable of sliding horizontally. A microplate which has a plurality of recesses in rows is placed in one stage and reagent bottles are placed on the other stage. The pipetter is supported on a horizontal guide rail operating slidably horizontally and along an axis perpendicular to the direction in which the two stages slide. The horizontal guide rail is supported on a vertical guide rail so as to operate slidably in a vertical direction. Thus the pipetter can be moved in a plane perpendicular to the direction in which the two stages slide. When reagents are sucked from reagent bottles, the second stage is slid so that a reagent bottle is superposed below the pipetter and the pipetter is moved downwardly into the reagent bottle to draw in a reagent.

Abstract: A thermal reaction apparatus for sealing liquid within cavities includes a tray having cavities for storing therein liquid. The cavities have openings arranged at varying levels in thickness direction of the tray. A planar sealing member is disposed on the tray to cover the openings and is comprised of a pair of flexible sheets and viscous fluid filled between the flexible sheets. A pressure plate is disposed on the planar sealing member for applying thereto pressure effective to locally flow the viscous fluid to enable the sealing member to seal the varying levels of the cavity openings to thereby prevent evaporation of the liquid stored in the cavities.