Gel Electrophoresis

Refer to Agarose Gel making page for how to make the gel.

If you already have pre-made gel, follow the rest of the procedure:
 * 1) Heat up your flask of agarose gel in the microwave and swirl occasionally to dissolve. Usually, about 1 minute of heating per 100mL of agarose is good place to start.  Watch CAREFULLY to make sure the liquid doesn’t boil over in the microwave. It is best to periodically take out and CAREFULLY swirl the flask to ensure all agarose dissolves (you can check by holding up to the light and looking for the disappearance of whitish/translucent chunks of agarose). When it is completely dissolved the liquid should be totally transparent.
 * 2) Pour about 50mL (for thicker gels use 55-60mL) from the large flask into the smaller flask (200mL) at the gel pouring station.
 * 3) Add 5uL EtBr* and swirl the small flask before pouring into the gel cast. *Make sure to dispose of tips that have contacted ANY EtBr in designated waste beaker at the gel station. (Note: EtBr is in the FPLC cold room, bottom drawer, in a white box).
 * 4) For colony PCR gels, set up the cast with two of the smaller combs. You will have exactly 30 wells for your 28 colony sample and an additional two for your ladder.
 * 5) Pour gel into the cast and let solidify about 30 minutes. After solidification, if you only need half of your gel, please cut the bottom half for someone else to use! (optional: you may pour your gel in the 4C for faster solidification)
 * 6) After solidification, remove the combs and place your gel in the gel box with TAE buffer in them. Make sure that TAE covers all of your wells.
 * 7) Pipet your DNA ladder and samples in to wells, and be sure to note their location in your notebook.
 * 8) You may set a timer on the Electrophoresis system by changing the voltage button from V --> Amps --> clock, and selecting the time, and then selecting the voltage that you want.
 * 9) Run gel at 120V (the time will depend on the size of your expected product).