Bead beating is an effective process used to disrupt a wide range of biological samples. It is achieved by rapidly agitating samples with grinding media (balls or beads) in a bead beater. Samples can be processed with or without buffer or solvent at room temperature or cryogenically.
The Geno/Grinder® and MiniG® are high-throughput homogenizers that can process samples in deep well plates as well as other formats (up to 50 mL tubes). The homogenizers have a linear motion that focuses the kinetic energy of the grinding media on the sample instead of on the sides of the container. Consequently, even resilient samples such as seeds are most effectively homogenized by these linear motion bead beaters.
Different samples vary in their resiliency to homogenization by bead beating. Even moderately resilient samples can be effectively homogenized using an apparatus such as the Geno/Grinder and MiniG.
An effective approach to homogenization is to find a balance between sample mass, vessel volume and grinding media, and material and size. A method that is effective with one sample will not necessarily be effective on another. Some method development will be necessary to establish the optimum protocol to reach the desired endpoint.
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