The Genome Engineering Facility provides expertise, tools and services related to genome engineering. We build the experimental models our research labs need to address their biological questions. We will support any experimental system the research groups of the institute require. Cell culture (immortalised and stem cells), C. elegans and mouse are the over 90% of what our users request, but we have supported projects in Drosophila, Zebrafish, Crustaceans, Platynereis, Planaria, Chlamydomonas, Quail, Ferret, etc.
The GEF is always happy to discuss your ideas and also helps with the design of your project.
How to reach us?
We take the time to listen and understand the aims of the project so we can recommend the best possible strategy to build the necessary models.
Our services are executed in collaboration with other facilities (stem cell facility (OSCF), transgenic core facility (TCF), FACS, Sequencing) as complete pipelines, which cover all steps - from design to validation. The whole process is transparent to the user through the use of the Labfolder electronic labbook, but the communication, materials and data exchange between the facilities are taken care of and typically no user interaction is required beyond the planning stage.
Terms & Conditions
We guarantee that our work will be performed using due care in accordance with the user agreement. We do not guarantee the successful completion of an engineering project. Although we use state-of-the art genome engineering techniques the successful outcome of a genome modification also depends on biological consequences we cannot control. In any case, the customer must pay the full price. A repeat of the project is included in the price. Comprehensive prices and implementation times vary between projects and can be requested only.
The first meeting to discuss a potential project is free of charge. During the execution of a project, the user is regularly informed about the project status. MPI-internal users can also view all project details in the digital lab folder at any time.
If the user provides his own reagents he/she assumes full responisiblity for the accuracy of these reagents.
Clonal cell lines are validated by sequencing only on DNA level for the requested modification (e.g. indels, point mutation, reporter etc). We do not offer tests of the gene behavior beyond DNA level, e.g. mRNA, protein or other biological contexts. Cell-line verification (e.g. karyotype), authentication or tests for pluripotency of the final clones are not included in our standard services but can be requested with our stem-cell facility.
Successfull modification of the genome depends on serveral factors. One determing factor is the cell type. The ability to manipulate genomic DNA with CRISPR/Cas9 varies between species as well as between cell-lines within a species. We recommend to use our standard cell lines (mouse embryonic stem cell strain JM8A1.N3, human iPS cell strain HPSI0114i-kolf_2-C1, human cancer cell strains HeLa and HCT116) for which we have well-established protocols . For uncharacterized cell lines, we first run diagnostic tests including growth & expansion, transfection efficiency with control plasmids, clonality and editing efficiency on a pool level. These extra steps increase turnaround time and require additional costs.