LI-COR Biosciences
Encyclopedia
LI-COR Biosciences designs, manufactures, and markets instruments for biological and environmental research. It is ISO 9001 certified, meaning that it demonstrates "its ability to consistently provide products (which include services) that enhance customer satisfaction and meet applicable statutory and regulatory requirements."
with subsidiaries in Germany and the United Kingdom. It was founded in 1971 under the name Lambda Instruments Corporation. The name was shortened to LI-COR, Inc. in 1978.
LI-COR biotechnology
instruments and reagents, which are based on near-infrared detection, are used in a large variety of assays, such as western blot
assays, as well as in vivo
imaging and DNA analysis. Primary applications include cancer
research, drug discovery
, genomics
research, and education.
research, greenhouse gas
monitoring, greenhouse gas
flux measurements, and soil respiration
measurements. LI-COR also manufactures light sensors, leaf area meters, and plant canopy analyzers, all of which are used to make fundamental measurements in disciplines including plant physiology
, climate change
, agronomy
(forestry
and agriculture
), and other areas of the natural sciences.
, the French National Sequencing Center to sequence chromosome 14 of the Human Genome Project
.
Researchers affiliated with micrometeorological networks around the world use LI-COR carbon dioxide
and water vapor
analyzers to assess ecosystem greenhouse gas exchange with the eddy covariance
technique. These networks include FluxNet
and regional networks such as AmeriFlux, ICOS, AsiaFlux, and others.
In 2010, the editors of R&D Magazine selected the LI-7700 Open Path CH4 Analyzer for an R&D 100 Award.
The LI-6400/6400XT Portable Photosynthesis System
is the most frequently cited photosynthesis system in peer-reviewed scientific literature.
Photosynthesis System:
Soil CO2 Flux System:
Area Meters:
Light Sensors:
Data Loggers:
Dew Point Generator:
Reagents:
Origins and history
LI-COR Biosciences is a privately held company based in Lincoln, NebraskaLincoln, Nebraska
The City of Lincoln is the capital and the second-most populous city of the US state of Nebraska. Lincoln is also the county seat of Lancaster County and the home of the University of Nebraska. Lincoln's 2010 Census population was 258,379....
with subsidiaries in Germany and the United Kingdom. It was founded in 1971 under the name Lambda Instruments Corporation. The name was shortened to LI-COR, Inc. in 1978.
Biotechnology
Biotechnology
Biotechnology is a field of applied biology that involves the use of living organisms and bioprocesses in engineering, technology, medicine and other fields requiring bioproducts. Biotechnology also utilizes these products for manufacturing purpose...
instruments and reagents, which are based on near-infrared detection, are used in a large variety of assays, such as western blot
Western blot
The western blot is a widely used analytical technique used to detect specific proteins in the given sample of tissue homogenate or extract. It uses gel electrophoresis to separate native proteins by 3-D structure or denatured proteins by the length of the polypeptide...
assays, as well as in vivo
In vivo
In vivo is experimentation using a whole, living organism as opposed to a partial or dead organism, or an in vitro controlled environment. Animal testing and clinical trials are two forms of in vivo research...
imaging and DNA analysis. Primary applications include cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
research, drug discovery
Drug discovery
In the fields of medicine, biotechnology and pharmacology, drug discovery is the process by which drugs are discovered or designed.In the past most drugs have been discovered either by identifying the active ingredient from traditional remedies or by serendipitous discovery...
, genomics
Genomics
Genomics is a discipline in genetics concerning the study of the genomes of organisms. The field includes intensive efforts to determine the entire DNA sequence of organisms and fine-scale genetic mapping efforts. The field also includes studies of intragenomic phenomena such as heterosis,...
research, and education.
Environmental
LI-COR environmental instruments are used for photosynthesisPhotosynthesis
Photosynthesis is a chemical process that converts carbon dioxide into organic compounds, especially sugars, using the energy from sunlight. Photosynthesis occurs in plants, algae, and many species of bacteria, but not in archaea. Photosynthetic organisms are called photoautotrophs, since they can...
research, greenhouse gas
Greenhouse gas
A greenhouse gas is a gas in an atmosphere that absorbs and emits radiation within the thermal infrared range. This process is the fundamental cause of the greenhouse effect. The primary greenhouse gases in the Earth's atmosphere are water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and ozone...
monitoring, greenhouse gas
Greenhouse gas
A greenhouse gas is a gas in an atmosphere that absorbs and emits radiation within the thermal infrared range. This process is the fundamental cause of the greenhouse effect. The primary greenhouse gases in the Earth's atmosphere are water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and ozone...
flux measurements, and soil respiration
Soil respiration
Soil respiration refers to the production of carbon dioxide when soil organisms respire. This includes respiration of plant roots, the rhizosphere, microbes and fauna....
measurements. LI-COR also manufactures light sensors, leaf area meters, and plant canopy analyzers, all of which are used to make fundamental measurements in disciplines including plant physiology
Plant physiology
Plant physiology is a subdiscipline of botany concerned with the functioning, or physiology, of plants. Closely related fields include plant morphology , plant ecology , phytochemistry , cell biology, and molecular biology.Fundamental processes such as photosynthesis, respiration, plant nutrition,...
, climate change
Climate change
Climate change is a significant and lasting change in the statistical distribution of weather patterns over periods ranging from decades to millions of years. It may be a change in average weather conditions or the distribution of events around that average...
, agronomy
Agronomy
Agronomy is the science and technology of producing and using plants for food, fuel, feed, fiber, and reclamation. Agronomy encompasses work in the areas of plant genetics, plant physiology, meteorology, and soil science. Agronomy is the application of a combination of sciences like biology,...
(forestry
Forestry
Forestry is the interdisciplinary profession embracing the science, art, and craft of creating, managing, using, and conserving forests and associated resources in a sustainable manner to meet desired goals, needs, and values for human benefit. Forestry is practiced in plantations and natural stands...
and agriculture
Agriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
), and other areas of the natural sciences.
Scientific contributions and recognition
LI-COR automated DNA sequencers were the primary systems used by GenoscopeGenoscope
The French National Sequencing Center was created in 1996 in Evry, France. It has been involved in the sequencing of the Human genome....
, the French National Sequencing Center to sequence chromosome 14 of the Human Genome Project
Human Genome Project
The Human Genome Project is an international scientific research project with a primary goal of determining the sequence of chemical base pairs which make up DNA, and of identifying and mapping the approximately 20,000–25,000 genes of the human genome from both a physical and functional...
.
Researchers affiliated with micrometeorological networks around the world use LI-COR carbon dioxide
Carbon dioxide
Carbon dioxide is a naturally occurring chemical compound composed of two oxygen atoms covalently bonded to a single carbon atom...
and water vapor
Water vapor
Water vapor or water vapour , also aqueous vapor, is the gas phase of water. It is one state of water within the hydrosphere. Water vapor can be produced from the evaporation or boiling of liquid water or from the sublimation of ice. Under typical atmospheric conditions, water vapor is continuously...
analyzers to assess ecosystem greenhouse gas exchange with the eddy covariance
Eddy covariance
The eddy covariance technique is a key atmospheric flux measurement technique to measure and calculate vertical turbulent fluxes within atmospheric boundary layers...
technique. These networks include FluxNet
FluxNet
FluxNet is a global network of micrometeorological tower sites that use eddy covariance methods to measure the exchanges of carbon dioxide, water vapor, and energy between the biosphere and atmosphere. Fluxnet is a global 'network of regional networks' that serves to provide an infrastructure to...
and regional networks such as AmeriFlux, ICOS, AsiaFlux, and others.
In 2010, the editors of R&D Magazine selected the LI-7700 Open Path CH4 Analyzer for an R&D 100 Award.
The LI-6400/6400XT Portable Photosynthesis System
Photosynthesis system
Photosynthesis systems are electronic scientific instruments designed for non-destructive measurement of photosynthetic rates in the field. Photosynthesis systems are commonly used in agronomic and environmental research, as well as studies of the global carbon cycle.- How photosynthesis systems...
is the most frequently cited photosynthesis system in peer-reviewed scientific literature.
Environmental products
Gas Analyzers:- LI-7700 Open Path CH4 Analyzer
- LI-7500A Open Path CO2/H2O Analyzer
- LI-7200 Enclosed CO2/H2O Analyzer
- LI-7000 Closed Path CO2/H2O Analyzer
- LI-840A CO2/H2O Analyzer
- LI-820 CO2 Analyzer
Photosynthesis System:
- LI-6400XT Portable Photosynthesis System
Soil CO2 Flux System:
- LI-8100A Automated Soil CO2 Flux System
- LI-8150 Multiplexer
- Soil Flux System Chambers: 8100-102, 8100-103, 8100-104, 8100-104C
Area Meters:
- LAI-2200 Plant Canopy Analyzer
- LI-3000C Portable Area Meter
- LI-3100C Area Meter
Light Sensors:
- Terrestrial Quantum Sensors: LI-190, LI-191
- Underwater Quantum Sensors: LI-192, LI-193
- Pyranometer: LI-200
- Photometric Sensor: LI-210
- Light Meter: LI-250A
Data Loggers:
- LI-1400
Dew Point Generator:
- LI-610 Portable Dew Point Generator
Biotechnology products
Imaging Systems:- Odyssey Imaging System
- Aerius Automated Imaging System
- Pearl Impulse Imaging System
- 4300 DNA Analysis System
Reagents:
- IRDye
- Western blot reagents
- In vivo reagents
- In-cell western reagents
- Genomics reagents