How to Send Clones on Filter Paper

When studying genetics in college or as a career, you may need to send plasmid DNA or clones to another lab for confirmation or in the interest of shared information. In order to clone a particular portion of DNA and make it stable for transport to another laboratory, scientists create plasmid DNA, a circular piece of DNA incubated in bacteria. Because the DNA is circular, it is less vulnerable to enzymes that would degrade the DNA in storage or during transport. Plasmid DNA clones suitable for experimentation will survive transport on filter paper with little or no degradation.

Things You'll Need

  • Autoclave
  • Handheld hole-punch
  • 2 Petri dishes, at least
  • Sterile tweezers
  • Filter paper
  • Micropipette
  • Saran wrap
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Instructions

    • 1

      Autoclave a handheld hole-punch and several sheets of filter paper.

    • 2

      Hold the hole-punch over a sterile Petri dish and punch out small paper disks from the filter paper.

    • 3

      Pick up one or more disks with sterile tweezers and set them in another Petri dish. If you are sending multiple samples of the same cloned DNA, you load them all on the same Petri dish. However, if you are sending several different samples, use a Petri dish for each sample to avoid cross-contamination.

    • 4

      Use a micropipette to place 5 to 10 uL of sample DNA on the filter paper disk. Repeat as necessary, using a fresh pipette tip when switching to a new sample.

    • 5

      Allow the filter paper to air dry.

    • 6

      Pick up the filter paper disk with sterile tweezers and place the disk on a piece of plastic wrap. You can place more than one disk of the same sample on a single piece of plastic wrap. However, you should place different samples on separate pieces of plastic wrap.

    • 7

      Fold the filter paper disk in the plastic wrap and mail according to your laboratory procedures.

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