Electrophoresis Kits
- KassH
- Posts: 68
- Joined: 16 Oct 2020, 10:14
- Job Title: Lab Tech
- School: SPC KMPSY
- State/Location: NSW
Electrophoresis Kits
Hi All,
I'm looking at purchasing an electrophoresis kit and wanted to know if anyone has one they would recommend?
Thanks
I'm looking at purchasing an electrophoresis kit and wanted to know if anyone has one they would recommend?
Thanks
-
- Posts: 894
- Joined: 15 Dec 2015, 10:49
- Job Title: Lab Technician
- School: FCAC
- State/Location: QLD
Re: Electrophoresis Kits
I would strongly suggest looking at the Dye electrophoresis kits as apposed to the real DNA ones .
we had the Carolina DNA ones but the samples were very expensive and had small shelf life . They also require supper dopper expensive Agarose powder and stains . The process was two part requiring overnight refrigeration for the staining process .
Then we switched to Dyes . The dyes are cheap . Normal Agar can be used . no staining required and the whole prac can be run in a period .
Sure , the Dyes aren't real DNA , but the process is a great simulation and shows the concept of different weight molecules traveling at different speeds .
we had the Carolina DNA ones but the samples were very expensive and had small shelf life . They also require supper dopper expensive Agarose powder and stains . The process was two part requiring overnight refrigeration for the staining process .
Then we switched to Dyes . The dyes are cheap . Normal Agar can be used . no staining required and the whole prac can be run in a period .
Sure , the Dyes aren't real DNA , but the process is a great simulation and shows the concept of different weight molecules traveling at different speeds .
- KassH
- Posts: 68
- Joined: 16 Oct 2020, 10:14
- Job Title: Lab Tech
- School: SPC KMPSY
- State/Location: NSW
Re: Electrophoresis Kits
Thanks for your reply. I was looking at these ones from Southern Biology
Bluegel Electrophoresis Starter Kit
Any feedback? They look like they can be used with both dye and DNA samples?
Bluegel Electrophoresis Starter Kit
Any feedback? They look like they can be used with both dye and DNA samples?
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- Posts: 894
- Joined: 15 Dec 2015, 10:49
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- School: FCAC
- State/Location: QLD
Re: Electrophoresis Kits
I had a quick look ,very nice units and the internal light and special dye in sample is a big improvement on the old ones , but to me they look like they just DNA samples . Nothing wrong with that but be prepared for a lot of expensive consumables each time you run . We simply couldn't afford to keep running DNA samples on our DET budget so we switched to the Dye ones .
Hope I.m not confusing you with the dye word .
Yes there is dye in the DNA samples , there has to be so you can see it move ....but the alternate electrophoresus kits actually just use a variety of different coloured Dyes as the actual sample in the wells . Each dye has a different weight to simulate the different weights that DNA has .
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Re: Electrophoresis Kits
Hi Ive got the Bluegel one, it does run with just dyes and is quick to run, good video on how to prepare the gels and buffer etc, MariaQ
- KassH
- Posts: 68
- Joined: 16 Oct 2020, 10:14
- Job Title: Lab Tech
- School: SPC KMPSY
- State/Location: NSW
Re: Electrophoresis Kits
Thanks bigmack and MariaQ.
That's good to know MariaQ. I watched the video and it all looked pretty straight forward but you never know until you get it!
KassH
That's good to know MariaQ. I watched the video and it all looked pretty straight forward but you never know until you get it!
KassH
- ELIZABETH
- Posts: 233
- Joined: 02 Jun 2006, 10:00
- School: O'Connor Catholic College
- Suburb: Armidale
- State/Location: NSW
Re: Electrophoresis Kits
We have the Bluegel ones which we run with dyes and home-made buffered agar and they work well.
Liz
Liz
- Kathryn
- Posts: 392
- Joined: 01 Jun 2006, 10:00
- Job Title: Lab Technician
- School: Cedars Christian College
- Suburb: Farmborough Hts, Wollongong
- State/Location: NSW
Re: Electrophoresis Kits
We have the Hexogel Electrophoresis unit from STEM Reactor. Can run 6 gels at the same time. We have been very happy with the unit and with the service from STEM reactor. Mostly we do the candy dye extraction but once per year we get in one of the DNA simulation kits.
Kathryn
Kathryn
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Re: Electrophoresis Kits
I been asked for 8 trays .We only have 5 and they only have 4 sample slots .
found one on thingverse that looks good .
3D printing it now . It has to be cheaper than buying one . Fingers crossed Failing this , I'll be Laser cutting some up in TAS out of Acrylic sheet . No way I'm paying rip off prices for a plastic box
found one on thingverse that looks good .
3D printing it now . It has to be cheaper than buying one . Fingers crossed Failing this , I'll be Laser cutting some up in TAS out of Acrylic sheet . No way I'm paying rip off prices for a plastic box
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Re: Electrophoresis Kits
It printed OK . Got a piece of Perspex cut at TAS for the bottom and siliconed it in place .
All setup waiting for the Agar to cool enough to pour . When it had cooled ,the Comb and end stops come out cleanly .
This was my biggest concern but it was fine. Loaded the dyes . The first few are a bit blurry because I forgot to whip the tip before loading the wells. It worked
OK ,Not bad for a first go with it . will tweak a few things but for less than $10.00 worth of PLA filament , perspex and what ever electrodes I use ,I'm pretty happy . ......and I'l have saved about $2000
All setup waiting for the Agar to cool enough to pour . When it had cooled ,the Comb and end stops come out cleanly .
This was my biggest concern but it was fine. Loaded the dyes . The first few are a bit blurry because I forgot to whip the tip before loading the wells. It worked
OK ,Not bad for a first go with it . will tweak a few things but for less than $10.00 worth of PLA filament , perspex and what ever electrodes I use ,I'm pretty happy . ......and I'l have saved about $2000
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Re: Electrophoresis Kits
Wow Bigmack, I hope your school appreciates you!!!
That is a fantastic set up, especially for the cost!
- Labbie
- Posts: 3259
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Re: Electrophoresis Kits
Well done Bigmack that's great
Regards Labbie
Lab Manager/Lab Tech, mind reading etc etc
Now retired
Lab Manager/Lab Tech, mind reading etc etc
Now retired
Re: Electrophoresis Kits
wow congratulation that looks great!!!
- KassH
- Posts: 68
- Joined: 16 Oct 2020, 10:14
- Job Title: Lab Tech
- School: SPC KMPSY
- State/Location: NSW
Re: Electrophoresis Kits
Talk about resourceful!! Maybe you should invoice for the difference?
Re: Electrophoresis Kits
Hi Bigmack,
How do we get a hold of the 3D pattern please? I would love the 3D info so we can make it as well.
Thanks
How do we get a hold of the 3D pattern please? I would love the 3D info so we can make it as well.
Thanks
-
- Posts: 894
- Joined: 15 Dec 2015, 10:49
- Job Title: Lab Technician
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Re: Electrophoresis Kits
Hopefully this link works .if not I can PM you the files .
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3321702
I changed things a bit . the original used banana sockets ( both of which are quite different ) and it suggested using Platinum wire or steel wire as the electrode.Platinum wire is nice but as I had already sold my first born for other projects and the steel wire did some funky things as did copper wire , I used good old Carbon electrodes . pulled the terminal out with pliers and hacksawed to fit . Then bent up some copper sheet to make some spring terminals.
Oh yeah , I had to snip out the small rings that hold the wires. The instructions also suggested getting some rubber window seal off ebay to use as the end stops but I just used some seal adhesive foam we had lying around. The thingiverse project also included a power supply which requires buying another circuit board off ebay and it runs at about 100V.
As I didn't have time to wait , I cobbled up a voltage doubler circuit out of some common diodes and capacitors I had lying around .I also had a few Xmas tree light power transformers that put out 24V AC so with the doubler , I got around 75-80 volts which works just as well as the higher voltage . It also worked with two power packs in series .
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Last edited by bigmack on 16 Nov 2020, 13:00, edited 1 time in total.
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- Posts: 894
- Joined: 15 Dec 2015, 10:49
- Job Title: Lab Technician
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Re: Electrophoresis Kits
I'm not saying that this is the way to do it . Just that if you are on a budget and can get help from TAS or others , it could save you a bit .
Sorry to have hijacked this topic . By all means move it if need be.
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Re: Electrophoresis Kits
Just wondering how your set-up has endured, bigmack?