Summary: | Thesis (S.B.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, 2004. === Includes bibliographical references (leaves 42-43). === A process known as mutational spectrometry allows the detection of both single and multiple mutations that appear to be spontaneous, using a technique known as constant denaturing capillary electrophoresis (CDCE). CDCE requires a region of constant temperature and concentration of denaturant. A massively parallel, fully automated instrument, capable of handling as many as 10,000 DNA samples simultaneously, is suited to this technique. A modular structure of such a mutational spectrometer was designed to remain water-tight, provide an array to hold the capillaries for electrophoretic excitation, and modulate the flow of a heat transfer fluid. Six such modules were manufactured and assembled. As the heat transfer fluid passed through the assembled structure, the natural thermal loss was determined. === by Michael R. Del Zio. === S.B.
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