What are the characteristics of the DNA ladders used for gel electrophoresis?
Posted April 24, 2024
Answer
The DNA ladder being used for gel electrophoresis should have these 5 characteristics:
- The fragments within the ladder should be distinct and separable from each other.
- The fragments in the ladder should exhibit stability over an extended period of time.
- The concentration of each fragment should be sufficient for visualization after electrophoresis.
- The ladder should undergo thorough purification to eliminate unnecessary and unidentified fragments, ensuring high purity.
- The presence of loading dye in the ladder should not compromise the specificity of the DNA ladder.
Additional resources
Methodology: simplified preparation of a DNA ladder using PCR