Using 3D Printing to Sample the Ocean Floor

When we think of biodiversity, we may think of forests with wildly differing species of birds, insects and other animals, or seas with wide varieties of fish. Sometimes biodiversity is easily visible in these larger species, but often it can only be measured on a very small scale. Dr. Matthew Cannon, a research associate in the lab of Dr. David Serre at the University of Maryland School of Medicine’s Institute for Genome Sciences, is interested in measuring biodiversity using DNA from environmental samples such as fresh or marine water, sediments or soils.

The analysis of environmental DNA, or eDNA, is an effective technique of measuring biodiversity. Organisms living in a particular area can be identified and characterized by the cells and hair they leave behind, or their decaying remains, all of which contain DNA and can reveal to scientists the types of creatures that are present in any given location. Special tools are required for this kind of analysis, especially for the type of work that Dr. Cannon wants to do, which involves taking samples from deep underwater locations.

Methods of sampling eDNA from deep underwater locations are limited by the volume of water that can be collected, or because of potential contamination from surface water. The possibilities presented by collection of eDNA from these deep-water locations are intriguing, however, because a single sample can give researchers an idea of the total biodiversity of a site without direct organism sampling. These locations are difficult to explore; traditional methods such as collecting samples in trawl nets or expeditions with remotely operated vehicles are expensive and can miss organisms that can’t be captured by a net or that avoid the lights of a rover.

Therefore, Dr. Cannon wanted to explore alternative options for deep-water eDNA sampling. He designed and 3D printed a device that houses a water filter and pump, controlled by an Arduino, that can collect samples at any depth. The device allows for the collection of large samples, limited only by filtering time.

“3-D printing is allowing us to develop a prototype water sampler that might not have been practical to imagine or design a few years ago,” Dr. Cannon said.

Dr. Cannon used the 3D printer at the Health Sciences/Human Services Library Innovation Space to create his prototype, which he is now testing to ensure that the parts work well together. It only takes a few hours to 3D print each prototype, allowing him to quickly develop new iterations.

The University of Maryland prioritizes technological advancement; towards the end of last year the university opened a new center dedicated to bioengineering, and was one of the earlier schools to open a MakerBot Innovation Center. The school is responsible for some advanced 3D printing-related research, and Dr. Cannon’s work will put the university on the map once again for its use of technology to gain new insight into areas that have previously been unexplored.

Discuss this and other 3D printing topics at 3DPrintBoard.com or share your thoughts below.

[Source/Images: University of Maryland]

 

218 Replies to “Using 3D Printing to Sample the Ocean Floor”

  1. Pingback: sports ribbons
  2. Pingback: 카지노사이트
  3. Pingback: 온라인카지노
  4. Pingback: Buy real viagra
  5. Pingback: cialis daily cost
  6. Pingback: google
  7. Pingback: cialis for sale
  8. Pingback: Sample viagra
  9. Pingback: seo expert
  10. Pingback: Buy branded viagra
  11. Pingback: goodrx cialis
  12. Pingback: how much is cialis
  13. Pingback: viagra 50mg
  14. Pingback: viagra for sale
  15. Pingback: togel hongkong
  16. Pingback: new ed pills
  17. Pingback: men's ed pills
  18. Pingback: rx pharmacy
  19. Pingback: Viagra or cialis
  20. Pingback: cialis generic
  21. Pingback: levitra 10 mg
  22. Pingback: levitra usa
  23. Pingback: vardenafil price
  24. Pingback: casinos
  25. Pingback: viagra buy
  26. Pingback: casinos online
  27. Pingback: cialis price
  28. Pingback: personal loans
  29. Pingback: installment loans
  30. Pingback: viagra pills
  31. Pingback: generic cialis
  32. Pingback: online casinos
  33. Pingback: cialis 5 mg
  34. Pingback: cialis internet
  35. Pingback: cheap viagra
  36. Pingback: casinos online
  37. Pingback: viagra buy
  38. Pingback: buy generic viagra
  39. Pingback: canadian viagra
  40. Pingback: cialis prices
  41. Pingback: cialis buy cialis
  42. Pingback: cheapest viagra
  43. Pingback: buy cialis online
  44. Pingback: casino world
  45. Pingback: jueriy.com
  46. Pingback: viagra pills
  47. Pingback: buy viagra online
  48. Pingback: viagra canada
  49. Pingback: buy viagra online
  50. Pingback: tadalafil
  51. Pingback: buy viagra online
  52. Pingback: cialis price
  53. Pingback: cheap arava 20 mg
  54. Pingback: viagra online
  55. Pingback: cialis miami
  56. Pingback: viagra light
  57. Pingback: claritin 10 mg usa
  58. Pingback: slot machine
  59. Pingback: casino real money
  60. Pingback: real online casino
  61. Pingback: quick loans ohio
  62. Pingback: quick payday loans
  63. Pingback: cbd oil for dogs
  64. Pingback: buy levitra 20mg
  65. Pingback: buy clomid
  66. Pingback: generic cialis
  67. Pingback: doctoral thesis
  68. Pingback: order diamox
  69. Pingback: cheapest diltiazem
  70. Pingback: order cialis india
  71. Pingback: elavil 10mg coupon
  72. Pingback: order imodium 2 mg
  73. Pingback: how to buy lopid
  74. Pingback: macrobid online
  75. Pingback: proscar 5 mg usa
  76. Pingback: protonix canada
  77. Pingback: buy provigil
  78. Pingback: order reglan
  79. Pingback: original site
  80. Pingback: sildenafil nz
  81. Pingback: tadalafil tablet
  82. Pingback: clonidinemg usa
  83. Pingback: cost of divalproex
  84. Pingback: buy phenytoin
  85. Pingback: 141genericExare
  86. Pingback: 141generic2Exare
  87. Pingback: asbvntbs
  88. Pingback: cialis 5mg tablet
  89. Pingback: pgjkiyqw
  90. Pingback: viagra ontario
  91. Pingback: cialis soft tablet
  92. Pingback: digoxin purchase
  93. Pingback: atorvastatin nz
  94. Pingback: propesia
  95. Pingback: buy lasix 100mg
  96. Pingback: ed pills for sale
  97. Pingback: save on pharmacy
  98. Pingback: cialis sale 20mg
  99. Pingback: lisinopril cost
  100. Pingback: buy cialis ebay
  101. Pingback: buy cialis ebay
  102. Pingback: medicine for ed

Comments are closed.