Reagents

Agarose

Critical to the success of DNA agarose electrophoresis is the availability of highly purified agarose that has been carefully blended to provide uniform lot-to-lot reproducibility. Ideal for classroom use, FOTODYNE's agarose is specially purified and is tested for band separation, sharpness and staining, as well as unwanted levels of DNase, RNase, or protease activities. In addition it is blended to provide uniform electrophoretic separations. For all your teaching needs, FOTODYNE's agarose is available in both 25 g (makes about 100 mini-gels) and 100 g (makes about 400 mini-gels).It can be melted between 87–89°C, and will gel at 36–39°C.

Catalog Numbers:
E3-5501 (25 g)
E3-5503 (100 g)

TBE Buffer

This buffer is commonly used for DNA gel electrophoresis. It is used both to prepare the agarose and as the "running" buffer in the electrophoresis chamber. A premixed powder, this TBE Buffer is ideal for those teachers who cannot afford the time to mix their own.

Catalog Number: E1-1820
Enough powder to make 10 liters of 1X buffer.

DNA Gel Loading Dye

The loading dye for DNA samples consists of ficoll mixed with the dye bromophenol blue. The ficoll increases the density of the sample and helps it to sink into the well when it is loaded. The negatively charged dye does not bind with the DNA and migrates independently toward the positive pole, allowing you to follow the migration of the "invisible" DNA fragments.

Catalog Number: E1-1847
1 ml of 10X

Ethidium bromide-stained gel viewed with 300 nm UV transillumination.

Ethidium Bromide Stain

This fluorescent dye binds to DNA molecules by stacking between their bases. Ethidium bromide stained DNA fragments can be visualized over UV light. To stain, this concentrated stock solution must be diluted to a concentration of 0.5 µg/ml (5 µl concentrated solution for every 100 ml of water).

Catalog Number: E1-1830
(1.5 ml of 10 mg/ml)

CAUTION! Ethidium bromide is a mutagen and a possible carcinogen. Handle solutions only when wearing latex or vinyl gloves.

Ethidium Bromide Disposal Kit

All the materials needed to safely inactivate ethidium bromide staining solution before disposal.

Catalog Number: E1-1849
(for 10X 1000 ml stain)

Methylene blue-stained gel viewed with white light transillumination.

Methylene Blue Stain

Methylene blue is an alternative stain used to visualize DNA. It is safer than ethidium bromide, and does not require ultraviolet light for visualization. However, methylene blue is a less sensitive stain than ethidium bromide and increased sample quantities are usually needed. Prolonged destaining is required and the separated bands will appear blue in color when viewed against white light. A working concentration of 0.01-.02% is suggested.

Catalog Number: E1-1835
(1 g)

Ampicillin

Use at a concentration of 50 µg/ml in LB media for growth of ampicillin-resistant E. coli cells such as those containing the plasmid pBR322.

Catalog Number: E1-1875
(10 g)