How to Load Gel Electrophoresis

The electrophoresis technique is performed to separate deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) molecules according to their molecular weight, size and electric charge. Scientists perform this technique by preparing an agarose gel and inserting a tooth comb to make tiny wells of same size. The gel is placed in an electrophoresis buffer and the samples mixed with dye are loaded into the wells with extreme care. The wells of agarose gel are so small that samples can even float into the buffer while loading. A simple mistake can ruin the whole experiment.

Things You'll Need

  • Micropipetter
  • Micropipette tips
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Instructions

    • 1

      Take the micropipetter and put a fresh tip on it. Calibrate your micropipetter by adjusting dial presents below the plunger. Rotate the dial clockwise or counterclockwise according to the protocol of your specific experiment. Usually between 10 and 25 microliters of DNA dye are loaded into each well.

    • 2

      Depress the plunger of your micropipetter. Dip the tip of micropipetter into the DNA dye. Release the plunger slowly so that the required amount of DNA dye gets into the tip of the micropipetter.

    • 3

      Slowly lower the tip of the micropipetter into the electrophoresis buffer solution. Support the forward end of micropipetter with another hand. Gently lower the tip of the micropipetter into one of the wells. Do not allow the tip of your micropipetter to touch the floor of agarose gel wells.

    • 4

      Gently depress the plunger of the micropipetter to expel DNA dye into one of the wells. See that the dye does not split into the buffer solution while loading. The DNA dye should not remain inside the tip after loading, because the volume of sample loaded into each well will change.

    • 5

      Withdraw the micropipetter from the buffer solution. Release the plunger of your micropipetter. Discard the used tip and replace with a new one. Record the order of your loading samples.

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