miniPCR bio
TM
Dye Electrophoresis Lab: Molecular Rainbow - Instructor's and Student's Guide
Version: 1.0 - Release: April 2022 - © 2022 by miniPCR bio™
P./31
Instructor's Guide
1. Prepare 1X TBE buffer (to be completed by teacher in advance)
• Prepare at least 60 ml of buffer for every Bandit
TM
or blueGel™ electrophoresis system
you plan to use.
• 30 ml of the buffer will be used to make your gel and 30 ml will be used as running
buffer.
• Refer to page 6 for detailed instructions on preparing 1X TBE buffer.
2. Prepare an agarose solution
• Obtain a heat-resistant container such as a glass
Erlenmeyer flask or beaker that is at least three times
the volume you wish to add.
• Combine 30 ml room temperature 1X TBE buffer and
one Agarose Tab
TM
for each gel you plan to pour.
• Allow the tabs to soak until they fully disintegrate
(this could take a few minutes).
• Swirl the flask or beaker to ensure the tabs have fully
disintegrated before heating.
3. Heat solution
• Expect to heat for about 60 seconds per 30 ml of liquid in a standard
microwave.
• Heat until the solution boils and continue until agarose is dissolved
and the solution becomes fully transparent.
4. Pour the agarose solution into the prepared Bandit
TM
• The agarose solution should cover the bottom of
the gel tray and the bottom 3 mm of the comb
(roughly the bottom 1/3 of the comb).
• Note: Because this lab uses colored dyes as experimental
samples, there is no need to add DNA stain.
5. Allow gel to solidify completely
• Gels will typically be ready in about 10 minutes.
• Gel is ready when cool and firm to the touch.
B. Prepare the gel
Caution: The solution may boil over the top of some containers.
The solution will be very hot.
Step 3
Step 1
Step 6
Gel tray
Casting
platform
Comb
GelGreen
GelGreen
50
40
30
20
10
Step 2
Agarose
powder
20 ml
1X TBE
buer
20 ml
H
2
O
Step 3
Step 1
Step 4
Step 6 Step 7
50
40
30
20
10
All-in-one tab
30 ml
1X TBE
buer
50
40
30
20
10
Agarose Tab
TM
Gel tray
Casting
platform
Comb
GelGreen
DNA
Stain
