The LightBench® Discover is versatile 3-in-1 instrument delivering automated gel electrophoresis for DNA Size Selection, Large Fragment Analytics (>150 kb) and Fluorometric Quantification applications, all in one compact footprint.
The LightBench® Discover offers a fast, cost-effective solution for research laboratories to streamline workflows and reduce setup and servicing costs, whilst delivering precise and accurate target enrichment as well as high-accuracy analytics.
The LightBench® Discover, powered by Ranger® Technology, uses pulsed field inversion technology to resolve large DNA, allowing fragment length analysis of DNA up to 150 kb in less than 2 hours.
The inbuilt camera enables real time imaging allowing the electrophoresis progress to be monitored live and parameters can be adjusted mid run without losing precious sample.
Delivering consistent results with reliable sensitivity, reproducibility and high accuracy every run.
The LightBench® Discover Ranger Analytics software provides mass-based and molarity-based quality control metrics, including average fragment size, sample purity and sample quality, to ensure accurate analysis and reliable results. The new Sample Quality Number (SQN) is used to assess DNA quality.
The software has two pre-loaded software protocols for large fragment analysis which enable quick and easy set-up. The 3 to 75 kb protocol is ideal for PacBio users and the 20 to 150 kb protocol is ideal for resolving very large DNA
To compliment the LightBench® Discover we have a range of new consumables. The new kits are comprised of a 0.5% agarose gel cassette, which facilitates larger DNA fragments to move through the gel and enables 20 samples to be analysed in one run. The Dual Dye Loading Buffer (DDLB) has an orange dye to aid usability, and the robust large fragment analytics DNA ladder is comprised of DNA bands ranging from 3 to 50 kb. These kits have a 12-month shelf life from date of manufacture.
Just combine your extracted DNA samples with the dual dye loading buffer, pipette into the cassettes along with the large fragment analytics ladder and away you go! The LightBench® Discover will do the rest!
The LightBench® Discover can also perform a plate-based fluorometric assay to accurately determine the concentration of DNA samples. This quantification data integrates with sizing data from fragment length analysis, and is used, for example, to ensure optimum molar dilution of samples prior to sequencing.
DNA Size Selection
| Parameter | Specification | Additional Information |
|---|---|---|
|
Allowable Size Range
|
0 - 20 kb+
|
Different gel percentages allow size selection targets across different regions of this total range
|
|
Loading Capacity
|
≤ 1 kb: 500 ng – 2 μg
2 - 5 kb: 250 ng – 1.5 μg 10 kb: 500 ng – 1 μg 20 kb+: 250 – 500 ng |
Exact loading capacity depends on the size range of interest and the gel percentage chosen
|
|
Resolution
|
10 – 20%*
|
Depends on the reagent kit and the run conditions. Resolution is defined as the minimum difference in fragment length between the start or end of a size selection window and the peak of the closest off-target fragment that ensures at least 90% rejection of said off-target fragment
|
|
No. of Samples / Run
|
1 - 12 (CGI-Format)
1 - 8 (SBS-Format) |
Depends on reagent kit selection
|
|
Run Time
|
1 – 4 hrs
|
Depends on optimisation of reagent kit selection and required resolution
|
|
Intrinsic Recovery Efficiency
|
70% - 80%
|
Recovery of targeted size region, not total sample
|
*Resolution assumes the use of a size selection cassette with 30 mm channel length. Size-selection cassettes with shorter channel lengths will have correspondingly lower resolution.
Fragment Length Analytics
| Parameter | Specification | Additional Information |
|---|---|---|
|
Allowable Size Range
|
50 bp - 150 kb
|
Different protocols/ cassettes allow analysis of different size ranges
|
|
Sizing Accuracy
|
Non-pulsed field protocols: 50 bp to 20 kb. See note.
Pulsed Field protocols:. Sample QC 3 kb to 75 kb protocol. 3 kb to 50 kb: 10%. 50 kb to 75 kb: 20%. Sample QC 20 kb to 150 kb protocol. 20 kb to 150 kb: 20%. |
For non-pulsed field protocols: Sizing accuracy depends on the fragment size and the reagent kit selection. When working within the recommended operating conditions, sizing accuracy is typically within 10%
|
|
Sizing Precision (Reproducibility)
|
10% CV
|
Determined by comparing sizing metrics across technical replicate within a run
|
|
Sensitivity
|
DNA smears (e.g., extracted DNA, libraries): 10 ng Individual bands: 0.5 ng
|
|
|
No. of Samples / Run
|
< 20 kb 1 to 24 or 1 to 48 samples
> 20 kb 1 to 20 samples |
Depends on reagent kit selection and cassette type
|
|
Run Time
|
< 20 kb typically 20 to 60 minutes
> 20 kb 20 samples 110 minutes |
Depends on fragment size and reagent kit selection
|
|
Mass Calculation Accuracy (In-Channel Quant)
|
± 20%
|
The accuracy of the in-channel quant is influenced when DNA sample overlaps with quant markers in Dual Dye Loading Buffer
|
Quantification
| Parameter | Specification | Additional Information |
|---|---|---|
|
Lower Detection Limit
|
0.2 ng
|
When using the prescribed fluorescence-based assay
|
|
Accuracy
|
+/- 15%
|
Depending on pipetting accuracy and the use of replicates, this number can be brought down
|
|
No. of Samples / Run
|
1 to 384
|
Supports 96 and 384-well plate formats
|
|
Run Time
|
<30 minutes
|
|
General Instrument
| Parameter | Specification |
|---|---|
|
Nucleic Acid Type
|
Double stranded DNA
|
|
Weight
|
20.5 kg
|
|
Dimensions (W x D x H)
|
32.5 cm x 42.4 cm x 38.1 cm
|
Enhancing Long-Read Sequencing Workflows for Plant & Animal DNA with LightBench® Discover
In this edition of Your Expert, Yourgene Health interviewed Dr. Alex Harkess and Lab Manager, Haley Hale, at HudsonAlpha in the CoLab, where a major part of their work involves using genomics to better understand plant reproduction and investigate potential crop improvements for sustainable agriculture.
Enhancing Long-Read Sequencing Workflows with the LightBench® Discover
In this edition of Your Expert, Yourgene Health interviewed Jared Slobodan, R&D Manager and Co-Creator of Ranger® Technology, on his thoughts and experiences using the LightBench® Discover instrument for enhancing long-read sequencing.
Hear what our early access customers said about the LightBench® Discover:
“The LightBench® Discover is a total game-changer – seriously, the best equipment in our laboratory.”
Quality Control and Size Selection for PacBio® Long-read Sequencing using the LightBench® Discover at HudsonAlpha’s CoLab
HudsonAlpha’s CoLab has successfully implemented the LightBench® Discover in their PacBio WGS workflow, using it for precise gel-based size selection and fragment length quality control of all samples. Gel-based size selection on the LightBench® Discover consistently removes DNA fragments <10 kb, increasing mean HiFi read lengths. The fragment length distribution data informs real-time decisions at key stages in the workflow, including assessment of HMW DNA quality, confirmation of DNA shearing, and verification of the final DNA library size and quality. The LightBench® Discover offers a reliable solution for integrated size-selection and quality control in long-read sequencing applications.
Videos
How can we help?
If you have a question or would like to learn more about our products and services, we're here to help.