Finishing Up; Specifications And Recommended Running Conditions; Section 4 Finishing Up - Thermo Scientific A2-OK Operating And Maintenance Manual

Thermo Scientific

Finishing Up

Section 4
1. When the gel run is complete and tracking dye has migrated as far
through the gel as desired, or to the end of the gel, turn off the power
supply and slide off the lid to disconnect from the power source.
Carefully remove the tray (s) containing the gel (wear gloves if
ethidium bromide is present). The UV Transmissible (UVT) gel tray
makes visualization and photography with a UV light source easy
without the need to remove the gel from the tray.
2. The gel box should be rinsed under warm running water after each
use, including the UVT gel tray (s). Rinsing the UVT gel tray (s) will
avoid salt build up in the gasket material from the electrophoretic
running buffer, extending the gasket life and ensuring leak-free gel
casting. An RNase/DNase decontaminate may be used. This
electrophoresis system must never be autoclaved, baked, or
microwaved!

Specifications and Recommended Running Conditions

Gel Size: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7cmW x 8cmL
Buffer Capacity: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2.3L
There are various types of agarose commerically available that may be used.
Besides standard ultra pure electrophoresis grade agarose, there are also
numerous low melting point products for easy sample recovery, as well as
speciality products formulated for specific uses to separate/recover very
small or very large fragments etc. To visualize and photograph the samples
after the gel run for a permanent record, the gel may be stained during or
following the run with a variety of stains. The most common stain for
DNA is ethidium bromide. Ethidium bromide may be added directly to
the gel and running buffer to quickly and easily visualize and photograph
the separated fragments following the gel run without the need for
additonal staining. If this is not added, then following the gel run the gel
may also be soaked in a concentrated ethidium bromide solution and
rinsed for the same visualization. The ethidium bromide is added to the gel
(after heating) and the electrophoresis buffer at a concentration of
0.5ug/ml.
Warning Ethidium bromide is a potential carcinogen. Care in handling
the powder and stock solution must be taken. Always wear gloves when
handling the powder, solutions and all gels that contain any amount of
ethidium bromide.
s
Horizontal System 4-1