Table of Contents
Advertisement
Getting Started
Gel Preparation:-
1. Table 1 shows the volume of agarose solution required to make the desired agarose gel for
each unit tray size. For a standard 0.7% agarose gel, add 0.7 grams of agarose to 100 ml of 1x
TAE or TBE solution. The same 1 x solution should be used in the tank buffer solution.
Table 1.
VWR ShiroGel 7x10cm
Tray
Gel volume for
a 1mm thick
gel
7 x10cm
70ml
2. Add the agarose powder to a conical flask.
3. Add the appropriate amount of 1x TAE or TBE solution from the table above. To prevent
evaporation during the dissolving steps below, the conical flask should be covered.
4. Dissolve the agarose powder by heating the agarose either on a magnetic hot plate with
stirring bar or in a microwave oven. If using the microwave method, mark the level of the solution
on the container. The microwave should be set at around a 400 watt or medium setting and the
flask swirled every minute. The solution should be heated until all crystals are dissolved. This is
best viewed against a light background. Crystals appear as translucent crystals. These will
interfere with sample migration if not completely dissolved. Once the once the agarose is
completely dissolves add ddi water to the solution to the marked level.
The gel must be cooled to between 50°C and 60°C degrees before pouring.
Gel Pouring:-
The VWR systems allow two different methods of gel casting:-
Casting Dams and Traditional Tape
Using trays with Casting Dams
1. Fit the casting dams over each end of the tray and place onto a level surface. The dams
should be fitted so that there is no gap between the sides of the tray and the groove in
the dams. This will ensure that there is no possibility of gel leakage.
VWR ShiroGel Horizontal Manual, Ver.1, 08.04.2010
VWR ShiroGel 15x10cm
Tray
Gel volume for
a 1mm thick
gel
15 x 10cm
150ml
VWR ShiroGel 15x15cm
Tray
Gel volume for
a 1mm thick
gel
15 x 15cm
225ml
Advertisement
Table of Contents
