Tips for loading agarose gels

Tips for loading agarose gels:
- make sure the gel is completely submerged in the running buffer
- prepare the samples on Parafilm
- start by making drops of loading buffer
- add your samples to the loading buffer and mix (without bubbling)
- suck up (aspirate) your sample, being careful not to draw up air (which will cause your sample to “pop” out of the well)
- scout out the wells
- stick a piece of tape on the cassette or gel box to help you locate them
- make sure you are inside the well before dispensing
- but make sure not to stab the well or the barriers between them
- dispense the sample slowly
- stabilize your hand by putting your elbow on the bench and/or grabbing your wrist with your other hand
- keep your thumb depressed until you’re all the way out to prevent sample from getting sucked back up
- to get all the sample out, you have to go to the full stop of the pipet - this blowout step has a tendency to blow out a bubble, which can cause a bit of sample to pop out - if you are really worried about sample lanes contaminating one another, don’t push all the sample out
- remember practice makes perfect! and remember to run to red! (set up gel so that the samples are on the black end of the box)
more about agarose gel electrophoresis: bit.ly/agaroseg... & bit.ly/agarose... & • Agarose gel electropho...
more about parafilm: • Parafilm "M" (M's a my...
more pipetting tips: • Pipetting tips
 
more practical lab tips & tricks: bit.ly/lab_tri... & • Practical lab tips & t...      
    
more about all sorts of things: #365DaysOfScience All (with topics listed) 👉 bit.ly/2OllAB0 or search blog: thebumblingbioc...

[@shayanamp]

Love your videos. You inspire us to become a better scientist. Thank you!

[@thebumblingbiochemist]

Thanks so much! Just happy I can help

[@marwanhesham7407]

@@thebumblingbiochemist You do. Keep the good work!!

[@marwanhesham7407]

Thank you!!

[@OkazakiFragment]

The Parafilm method can sometimes result in smears fyi.

[@thebumblingbiochemist]

I haven't had that problem that I know of but good to know!

[@karthigakarthiga7943]

Maximum how much microliters of dna and dye combo can be loaded into the well?

[@thebumblingbiochemist]

It depends on the well size - so gel thickness and comb thickness