When you’re planning fieldwork or setting up a temporary lab, it can be hard to imagine bringing molecular biology workflows into an unfamiliar setting. How can DNA tools work outside a traditional lab? What does that look like?
Our community are using Bento Lab everywhere from remote wildlife clinics to research vessels, offering examples of how molecular workflows including PCR and gel electrophoresis have been made to work outside the lab.
Here are five real-world examples of temporary setups to spark your own ideas, with links for each to more details and related publications.
1. Onboard a Marine Research Vessel
Dr. Jia Jin Marc Chang from the National University of Singapore used Bento Lab onboard a dive vessel to carry out in-field DNA barcoding of marine invertebrates. His team extracted DNA using a heat-based method and amplified COI barcodes using Bento Lab’s thermocycler.
To speed the workflow up, they skipped gel checks and moved straight to amplicon cleanup. A phone-powered mini fan came in handy for drying magnetic beads – great for a compact, boat-based workspace. From sample collection to sequencing, the full workflow took under nine hours. The setup was temporary, but they found that the results matched lab-quality standards.
- Workflow DNA extraction, PCR, sequencing prep
- Sample type: Metazoan specimens
- Power AC mains on the ship
More on this work and a link to their publication →
2. In a Veterinary Clinic
Ineke Knot from the University of Amsterdam used Bento Lab to set up a temporary DNA lab in a veterinary clinic in Sumatra. They aimed to identify nematode parasites in great apes through DNA barcoding. She trained the Sumatran Orangutan Conservation Programme team to extract and amplify DNA from faecal samples using the portable setup.
The team targeted a fragment of the 18S rRNA gene (~900 bp) to identify four nematode species. This field-based genomic approach provided real-time health insights in a region where apes are vulnerable to human-transmitted infections like Covid-19.
By equipping local conservationists with molecular biology tools, the project helped bring genomics into everyday wildlife protection work.
Workflow DNA extraction, PCR, sequencing
Sample type Faeces
Power AC mains at the clinic
Details of the project, with publication link →
3. Temporary Setup at a Lake
Noah Bryan and Dr Lawrence Goodridge from the University of Guelph set up a temporary field lab using Bento Lab to perform rapid water quality testing. The workflow involved bacterial concentration from 10 L water samples using paramagnetic beads, followed by DNA isolation and PCR amplification targeting the 16s rRNA gene.
The setup operated fully outdoors near the lake, and could allow onsite processing and sequencing preparation within a 9-hour window. This rapid, mobile workflow aims to enable direct detection of multiple bacterial pathogens in freshwater environments.
- Workflow Bacterial concentration, DNA extraction, PCR amplification, sequencing
- Sample type Freshwater lake water
- Power Portable battery pack and cooler for reagent storage
Read more about this project →
4. Mountainous Field Site
Dr Nabil Amor and his colleagues used Bento Lab in a remote mountainous region to perform on-site genetic analysis of scat samples from endangered species. DNA was extracted using a standard protocol, then amplified by PCR and checked by gel electrophoresis with Bento Lab’s integrated system before sequencing.
To keep reagents stable without traditional lab freezers, they transported reagents in portable coolers. The entire setup was carried in lightweight cases, making the mobile lab easily deployable for short-term field expeditions. This temporary lab enabled rapid confirmation of sample quality and species ID without waiting for lab-based analysis, accelerating conservation decision-making.
- Workflow DNA extraction, PCR, gel electrophoresis, sequencing
- Sample type Scat samples
- Power Battery pack
Overview of the research and related publications →
5. Inside a Museum
A team from the University of Coimbra set up a temporary lab at a national museum to study the microbes growing on the stone walls of an ancient underground passage. Using Bento Lab, the team extracted DNA, checked its quality on gels, and prepared samples for whole-genome sequencing. A styrofoam box packed with freezer blocks kept reagents cool, and a MinION device was used to sequence the DNA right there on-site.
The full workflow took just 38 hours and revealed how these hidden microbes might be quietly contributing to the stone’s slow decay — offering new insight into how historic sites can be protected.
- Workflow DNA extraction, PCR, gel electrophoresis, sequencing
- Sample type Microbial samples
- Power AC mains
Details of this work, with publication link →
We hope these examples inspire your own fieldwork and temporary lab setups using Bento Lab.
If you have suggestions for additional resources, protocols, or application notes you’d like to see, please let us know. We’re always keen to hear how Bento Lab is helping advance your research in the field — feel free to share your stories or get in touch with any questions!
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