A state-of-the-art microinjection system consists of (1) Leica DM IL LED Inverted fluorescence microscope equipped with a Leica DMC4500 Digital Camera, (2) Eppendorf TransferMan(r) 4r, micromanipulator with DualSpeed(tm) joystick for direct and dynamic movement control, (3) Eppendorf InjectMan(r) 4 micromanipulator with dynamic movement control , and (4) Eppendorf FemtoJet(r) 4i programmable microinjector with integrated pressure supply. This system allows us to inject small volumes (as little as 100 pL) of plasmids, enzymes, or other DNA/RNA/protein solutions into adhered or suspended cells, embryos and small organisms to alter their genome or functions and processes of cellular machinery. It is an important tool in genetics, bioengineering, genome editing, and functional genomics research.
