Seeding allows one to grow crystals in the metastable zone. Crystallization in this zone provides control, reproducibility and an improved likelihood of a successful crystallization experiment. Also, crystals can grow from seeds but cannot spontaneously nucleate. By placing a seed or solution of seeds in a drop which is saturated to the metastable zone, one can use the seeds to grow larger single crystals. By controlling the number of seeds introduced into the drop, one can control the number of crystals grown. It is not practically possible to measure and know the number of seeds introduced to a drop, but by performing serial dilutions from a concentrated seed stock, one can control the number of crystals grown in the drop.

Using the Seed Bead kits, one can create crystal seed stock for subsequent seeding experiments. Crystals are placed in the microcentrifuge tube with the Seed Bead(s) and either vortexed or sonicated to generate a seed stock. Then by performing serial dilutions, one can control the number and size of crystals in the experiment.

The Seed Bead kit is useful for the preparation of seed stocks for automated and semi-automated microseeding (D’Arcy 2007, Harlos 2008).

Each Seed Bead Kit (HR2-320) contains 24 special microcentrifuge tubes, each tube containing a single 3mm PTFE Seed Bead.

Each Seed Bead Steel Kit (HR4-780) contains 24 special microcentrifuge tubes, each tube containing a six 1.6 mm Stainless Steel Seed Beads.

Each Seed Bead Ceramic Kit (HR4-781) contains 24 special microcentrifuge tubes, each tube containing a ten 1.0 mm Zirconium Silicate Ceramic Seed Beads.

Each Seed Bead Glass Kit (HR4-782) contains 24 special microcentrifuge tubes, each tube containing a ten 1.0 mm Glass Seed Beads.