Several analysis tools are available for cell-based research e.g. facilities to carry out polymerase chain reactions (PCR). The qTower³ G touch qPCR machine is a 96-well format and currently uses one SYBR Green module, however, can be equipped with up to six for multiplexing capabilities. One main function of this system will be to evaluate stress parameters on microbial communities collected from Arctic snow and ice samples.

The Environmental Mineralogy Labs are equipped with a very diverse suite of spectroscopic and scattering instruments to determine material chemical composition, structure, surface area and grain size of both synthetic and natural samples. For instance,

• Our powder X-ray diffractometer (XRD) consists of two individual instruments capable of X-ray scattering analysis using both Cu (λ=1.54 Å) and Ag radiation (λ=0.56 Å) in transmission geometry. XRD can be used to analyze both crystalline …

The Molecular Microbiology Lab focuses on
I) DNA and RNA extraction, quantification and integrity applying protocols on commercial kits (physical and chemical cell lysis, silica column), phenol/chloroform extractions and extra- and intracellular separation (e/I DNA), and
II) microbiome diversity and abundance applying protocols on amplification and quantification of target genes via PCR and quantitative PCR, NGS library preparation as well as NGS sequencing.
Various sample types such …

The Planetary Analog Simulation Facility-Laboratory (PASLAB) at the DLR is used for different astrobiological, chemical and physical experiments to simulate variations in key environmental conditions like pressure, temperature, radiation and gas composition, under conditions ranging from Earth-like (including Early Earth) to the near-surface atmosphere of Martian mid- and low latitudes and exoplanets (e.g. temperature range between -70 °C to +20 °C, low pressures 6 to 10 mbar, etc.). The DLR …