Funders
National Research Foundation (NRF) South African & National Science Foundation (NSF) United States
Within the Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management (UESM) at North-West University (NWU), the Water Research Group (WRG) has a molecular laboratory devoted to the preparation of biological specimens for molecular characterisation, species identification, and the investigation of phylogenetic relationships across a wide range of organisms in South Africa and abroad.
The laboratory is divided into three distinct sections: an atrium, an extraction room, and a PCR suite. The atrium accommodates a workstation equipped with specialised bioinformatics software to facilitate the analysis of molecular data. The adjoining extraction room is furnished with essential infrastructure for efficient sample processing, including desktop and mini centrifuges, a temperature-controlled centrifuge, heat blocks, a shaking incubator, and fully equipped pipette stations, all arranged to support a smooth, streamlined extraction workflow. Additionally, an autoclave is also housed within the laboratory, enabling the on-site sterilisation of equipment and consumables, thereby eliminating the need for outsourcing and minimising the risk of contamination. The PCR suite contains the instruments required to quantify and assess DNA concentration and quality, including a NanoDrop and a Qubit fluorometer, as well as a PCR workstation for the clean preparation of amplification reactions. It is further equipped with two thermocyclers, an electrophoresis station, and a UV transilluminator for the visualisation and verification of PCR products.
Since its establishment in 2018, the WRG molecular laboratory has played a vital role in the training of numerous postgraduate students, while also serving international exchange students and providing a valuable facility for collaborative researchers and postdoctoral fellows, both within South Africa and abroad, such as Australia, Brazil, the Czech Republic, Germany, Ukraine, and the United States.
Last updated: June 2026
Comments on the content and accessibility, please contact: Adri Joubert