The Department of Biology of the University of Crete is based in Heraklion and since 1997 functions in the permanent premises of the University to the greater area of the Voutes campus. The equipment of the Department for the execution of key experiments in traditional molecular biology, cell biology and histology is almost complete, while the "common use" equipment and public areas of support include ultra-centrifuges, -80oC freezers, counting systems of radioactive material, phospho-imager, electron microscopes, confocal microscopes, Video-microscopy systems, photography and film development, incubators, large autoclaves, cell culture facilities fully equipped with access to cell sorter, microtomes, cryotomes etc. The buildings of the Department of Biology are associated with a dense computer network (personal and workstations) locally connected and over the Internet and there is excellent support from a fully organized computing center. The Biology Department has an Insectarium and a Greenhouse based on modern standards and moreover high-standards Animal Houses.
Animal House
The Animal House of the Department is comprised by a) a central facility for the breeding of mice free from pathogenic microorganisms that houses 1000-2000 mice either wild-type or genetically modified, b) the experimental unit and c) the Quarantine, which houses mice imported from other research institutions or companies. In the Animal House are bred and maintained strains of mice for the experimental needs of the faculty members of the Department of Biology. Our skilled and experienced staff of the Animal House assist the work of researchers with respect to experiments in animal models and is responsible for the proper maintenance and operation of the unit.
Insectarium
The insectarium of the Department of Biology supports the Department's needs for the research on insects - carriers of parasitic diseases (such as the main vector of malaria Anopheles gambiae), key pests of crops, such as the olive fruit fly, and in Drosophila. This is a multi-user installation with emphasis on insect genetics and is equipped with modern systems for micro-injections . The insectarium is equipped with workstations equipped with a supply of CO2, stereoscopes and light sources.
Equipment
1 ) Stereoscopes
2 ) Microscopes
3 ) Equipment for microinjections
4 ) Light sources, incubators, precision balances, freezers and other small items
5) Source of gamma irradiation
Services
1) Central production of food for insects
2 ) Central CO2 supply system
Greenhouse
The Greenhouse at the Department of Biology supports the Department's needs for research in Plant Biology and Plant Biotechnology .
Equipment
1 ) Greenhouse glazing with 6 bed 6 bed 5x6m and 6x10m intermediate corridor
2 ) Laboratory materials preparation 60m2
3 ) Metal benches for theplacement of plants in pots
4 ) Capability for internal shading
5 ) Adjustable temperature with semi-autonomous air conditioning chambers (8x40000BTU, 4x60000 BTU)
6 ) Possibility of automatic irrigation
7 ) Ability to create internal pressure
8 ) Ability for misting system in a chamber
Services
Depending on the needs , the Greenhouse can be used from other Departments and Research Institutions of Heraklion
Collaborating Laboratories
K. Kalantidis (Arabidopsis, Nicotiana benthamiana, Nicotiana tabacum, Solanum lycopersicum, virologic markers)
M. Tsagris (Solanum lycopersicum, Nicotiana benthamiana, Nicotiana tabacum, virologic markers)
I. Vontas (Phaseolus vulgaris, Solanum lycopersicum)
Staff
Name: S. Mavrakis
Phone: 2810-394376 (Greenhouse )
Name: G. Papadakis
Phone: 2810-394376 (Greenhouse )
Office: 2810-394460
Cell Culture
The Department of Biology maintains a stand-alone installation of cell cultures containing all necessary equipment for the development, maintenance and analysis of animal and plant cell lines. The facility provides the basic support for the research needs of the staff of the Department: preparation, control and filtering of cell culture media and is also a source of sterile equipment and disposables. The facility has individual rooms with filtered air supply provided free of microorganisms by UV irradiation. The Cell Culture facility operates in accordance to the existing European legislation regarding the use and disposal of biohazardous substances and microorganisms.
Systems for the development and maintenance of plant tissue culture and genetic transformation of plant tissues/ cells
1 ) Five GW500 plant growth chambers for adjustable temperature and lighting
2 ) A climatic chamber Conviron with adjustable temperature and humidity plus complete photosynthetic light spectrum
3 ) A continuous laminar flow hood for the sterile use of plant cells and explants
4 ) Two laminar flow hoods for the use of bacterial cultures
5 ) Systems for the bombardment of cells and tissues (a) Helios gene gun, (b) portable gene gun (Biorad)
6 ) Electroporation systems
7 ) Two refrigerated centrifuges
8 ) A small-sized ultracentrifuge
Electron Microscopy Unit "Vasilis Galanopoulos"
Lecture Halls
The Department of Biology maintains a number of classrooms and auditoriums to meet the educational needs of undergraduate and graduate students. It is equipped with modern equipment to meet the needs of teaching and lectures by internal and external speakers (Projectors, PCs, VCR with S Video, TV, microphone , Laser Pointer).
Auditoriums
Auditorium A (E118) (Capacity: 125 )
Auditorium B (A136) (Capacity: 148 )
Classrooms
Classroom A (E135) (Capacity: 30)
Classroom B ( A137 ) (Capacity: 32 )
Classroom C (Ai.019 Physics) (Capacity: 40 )
Classroom 2 (Physics) (Capacity: 48)
Multimedia room
Multimedia Room (E141) (Capacity: 35)
Conference Rooms
PC-room (E110) (Capacity: 22)
Conference Room - Level 2 (A207) (Capacity: 34 )
Conference Room - Level 3 (A307) (Capacity: 30)
Facilities of Undergraduate Laboratories
The Biology Department maintains four (4) classrooms for laboratory courses to meet the educational needs of undergraduate students. The rooms are on the ground floor level of the premises of the Department of Biology, in the greater Voutes area in Heraklion. They are equiped with modern equipment for the execution of experiments for both the Molecular Biology Section (biochemistry, microbiology, molecular and cell biology, genetics, immunobiology, etc.) and the Section for the Environment (plant anatomy and animal biodiversity of plants and animals, ecolog , ichthyology, etc.). The laboratories are supported by the preparation room and storage areas.
Laboratory Area A
Capacity: 30 positions
Equipment: Microscopy
Phone : 2810-304415
Contact: Athanasios Gkompoitsos
Laboratory Area B
Capacity: 40 positions
Equipment: Microscopy
Phone: 2810-304418
Contact: Despina Dokianaki, Maria Dramountani
Laboratory Area C
Capacity: 36 positions
Equipment: Biochemistry
Phone: 2810-304433
Contact: Elena Kouimtzoglou, Anastasia Papadaki
Laboratory Area D
Capacity : 22 positions
Equipment: Biochemistry
Phone: 2810-304418
Contact: Despina Dokianaki, Maria Dramountani
Microelectronics Workshop
The Microelectronics Laboratory supports a wide range of research equipment in the premises of the Department. It provides repair and maintenance services for most electronic and electromechanical organs and also provides advice on the design and manufacture of electronic instruments. Costas Petropoulos, head of the laboratory, has extensive experience in solving complex problems and to design new equipment to achieve specific requirements.
Staff
Name: Costas Petropoulos
Office: Γ224
Office Phone: +30 2810 394432
Laboratory: E146 (Microelectronics Laboratory)
Phone Workshop: +30 2810 394433
Email address: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Computers & Networks
The purpose of this section is to provide technical information to implement effective infrastructure for the educational and research requirements of the Department of Biology. The head of the department provides help on designing and updating websites of the Department and specialized knowledge of design and technical troubleshooting on networks and computers.
Staff
Name: Nektarios Papadakis
Office: Γ113
Office Phone: +30 2810 394430
Email address: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Reservations - Booking System of Lecture Halls
Each faculty member can make a reservation online HERE for the following :
1. Auditorium A (E118)
2. Auditorium B (A136)
3. Classroom A (E135)
4. Classroom B (A137)
5. Classroom C
6. Plants' Laboratory (A)
7. Animals' Laboratory (B)
8. Biochemistry Laboratory (C)
9. Classroom 2 (Physics Dept.)
10. Multimedia Room (E141)
11. PC Room
12. Conference Room - Level 2 (A207)
13. Conference Room - Level 3 (A307)
14. Laptop (Secretariat Γ325)
15. Projector A (Secretariat Γ325)
16. Projector B (Secretariat Γ325)
