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What is Gel Electrophoresis?
Gel electrophoresis systems utilize a porous, electrically-charged gel matrix to separate distinct nucleic acid and protein sequences based on molecular weight (or fragment size). The gel box is designed to include a cathode, or negatively-charged electrode, at one end of the medium and an anode, or positive-charged electrode, at the opposite end.
Electrophoresis Protocol
The gel box is filled with an ionic buffer that creates an electrical field when the cathode and anode are connected to power. As proteins, DNA and RNA molecules carry an intrinsic negative charge; the fragments migrate through the gel medium toward the anode. The speed of migration correlates to the size of the fragment; smaller molecules will move faster through the porous gel than larger, slower molecules. Once completed, the gel run results in unique bands of nucleic acids or proteins separated by molecular weight. Compared against a positive control ladder for reference, the appropriate fragments are excised from the gel for further purification.
A - Electrophoresis Gel Configuration
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A1 - Electrophoresis Systems Horizontal Electrophoresis Gels cast in a horizontal gel orientation are used primarily for nucleic acid separation within an agarose matrix. As the pores within an agarose gel are larger than the pores within a polyacrylamide gel, the DNA and RNA molecules, which are larger than protein molecules, are better suited to migrate effectively through agarose. Since horizontal systems expose the gel matrix to atmospheric oxygen, agarose is chosen as the preferred medium over polyacrylamide, which does not polymerize in the presence of O2 gas.
View Online: Thermo Fisher Gel Horizontal Electrophoresis
A2 - Vertical Electrophoresis SystemsVertical Electrophoresis Gels cast in a vertical orientation are used primarily for protein separation within an acrylamide matrix. As acrylamide pores are smaller in diameter than agarose pores, acrylamide gels yield a higher resolution and greater separation of proteins, which are smaller than nucleic acid fragments. Since vertical systems require a thinner (less than 2 mm) gel, acrylamide is the optimal choice over agarose, which contains larger gel pores that inhibit fragment migration through a thinner matrix. Learn more about the differences between horizontal vs vertical gel electrophoresis systems.
View Online: Horizontal DNA and Protein Electrophoresis Systems - IBI Scientific
B - Electrophoresis Gel Matrix
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B1 - Agarose Gel for DNA Electrophoresis Agarose gels contain larger (100 to 500 nm) and less uniform pores than acrylamide gels, making agarose optimal for nucleic acid separations, which involve larger fragments than protein separations. Agarose gels achieve better fragment separation during horizontal runs, which are designed to accommodate thicker (greater than 2 mm) gels than vertical runs.
Compare Online: Agarose Electrophoresis Gels
B2 - Acrylamide Electrophoresis GelAcrylamide gels contain smaller (10 to 200 nm) and more uniform pores than agarose gels, making acrylamide optimal for protein separations, which involve smaller molecules than DNA and RNA separations. Acrylamide gels yield clearer fragment separation during vertical runs, which are designed to require thinner (less than 2 mm) gels than horizontal runs. Acrylamide does not polymerize, or harden, in the presence of atmospheric oxygen, making acrylamide incompatible with horizontal gel boxes, which expose the gel matrix to O2 gas.
Compare Online: Polyacrylamide Gels
C - Electrophoresis Sample Type and Resolution
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C1 - Nucleic Acid Electrophoresis For higher resolution and separation clarity, horizontal-oriented agarose gels are optimal for DNA and RNA molecules. Because horizontal gels utilize a continuous buffer system, the nucleic acid fragments are accessible during the separation procedure.
Compare: Benchmark SmartGlow Pre-stain for Nucleic Acid Gels
C2 - Serum Protein ElectrophoresisProtein
For higher resolution, vertically-oriented acrylamide gels are best suited for protein molecule separation. As vertical gels utilize a discontinuous buffer system, the buffer can only flow through the gel when moving from the top to the bottom chamber, allowing for more precise control of the voltage gradient. The optimization of the voltage gradient yields higher separation clarity, ideal for linear protein strands, which may demonstrate similar molecular weights.
D - Voltage
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D1 - 120 Volt Electrophoresis Systems
120-volt connections are suitable for low-voltage standard residential power outlets in the US.
D2 - 240 Volt Electrophoresis Systems
240-volt connections require less current (amperage) and smaller conductors than appliances designed to operate at 120V.
E - Electrophoresis Buffer Capacity
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The volume and concentration of the buffer used to prepare and run the gel depends upon the application and sample type. Two commonly used buffer formulations are Tris-Acetate-EDTA (TAE) and Tris-Borate-EDTA (TBE). TAE buffer yields faster migration of linear DNA and better resolution of super-coiled or genomic DNA. TBE buffer is optimal for separation of longer DNA fragments (larger than 2 kb).
F - Electrophoresis Gel Dimensions
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The optimal gel box size depends upon the sample type, buffering capacity and voltage level. Smaller gel boxes are ideal for separation of short, linear DNA fragments, while larger gel boxes are optimal for longer DNA fragments (larger than 2 kb).
Where Can I Find a Trusted Supplier of Electrophoresis Equipment?
Laboratory-Equipment.com offers carefully selected electrophoresis product lines from Thermo Fisher, IBI Scientific Gel Systems, Benchmark (SmartGlow) and Accuris (myGel & myVolt). Through our worldwide network of reps, we supply some of the largest research and production facilities in the world. Laboratory-Equipment.com is a laboratory speciality division of Terra Universal. For nearly 40 years, Terra has served semiconductor, aerospace, life science, pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and medical device markets.
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Incubators & Environmental Test Chambers
A – Lab Incubator Capacity
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Laboratory incubators are manufactured in a broad array of sizes, ranging from compact benchtop units smaller than 1 cubic foot to high-capacity, reach-in chambers larger than 40 cubic feet.
Compact incubators (small-footprint, counter-top models under 6 cubic feet) are designed to house samples from a single cell culture line. For labs with limited workspace, certain benchtop incubators are compatible with stacking kits that accommodate up to 3 units.
Floor-standing incubators (up to 20 cubic feet) are designed to isolate cultures from multiple cell lines, protecting the samples from cross-contamination.
High volume reach-in models (larger than 20 cubic feet) include space for additional sample agitation equipment, such as incubator-safe shakers, for cell aeration and solubility studies.
Compare Incubator Sizes and Prices
B – Incubator Temperature Control Systems
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Lab incubators and environmental test chambers are designed to maintain environmental conditions ideal for growing and storing bacterial and mammalian cell cultures.
Why Use a CO2 Incubator for Cell Culture?
CO2 incubators, used primarily to promote human cell growth, maintain a temperature of 37 degrees Celsius and a humidity level of 95% RH. Microbiological incubators are designed to sustain temperatures between 5 degrees and 70 degrees Celsius to accommodate a variety of bacterial, viral and fungal species.
Refrigerated incubators maintain temperatures up to 40 degrees cooler than ambient conditions for fermentation studies and plant cell cultures.
C – Incubator Construction Material
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C1 – Aluminum Incubators
Drosophila incubators feature day/night cycling to promote fruit fly germination and include aluminum-clad interior panels for better light refraction throughout the chamber.
C2 – Epoxy-Coated Steel Incubators
Epoxy-coated steel resists the most common biocides and alcohol-based disinfectants, but may be prone to corrosion in high humidity environments.
C3 – Powder-Coated Steel Incubators
Powder-coated steel represents an economical alternative to stainless steel, resisting most sanitizers and disinfectants. However, the powder coating may crack after prolonged exposure to bleach-based cleaners.
C4 – Stainless Steel Incubators
Stainless steel incubators maintain aseptic conditions within the incubator, resist all sanitizers and disinfectants, and will not corrode in high humidity environments.
D – Environmental Incubator Air Convection Method
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D1 – Air Jacket Incubators
Jacketed CO2 Incubators employ two primary methods of temperature control: water-jacketed and air-jacketed internal plenums. Water-jacketed incubators offer better temperature uniformity but must be drained and cleaned weekly. Air-jacketed models are lighter, easier to transport, and maintenance-free.
D2 – Dual Convection Incubators
Dual convection incubators toggle between mechanical and gravity convection modes. Gravity convection models introduce heat, through a heating element, at the bottom of the internal chamber and allow gravity to cause the warmed air to rise throughout the storage area. Mechanical convection systems utilize an internal fan to distribute heated air across the internal chamber.
D3 – Forced Air Incubators
Similar to mechanical convection systems, forced air incubator utilize an internal or external blower to distribute heated air throughout the internal chamber. Forced air and mechanical convection incubators boast reduced recovery times after the chamber is accessed, making these designs ideal for high-throughput cell culture labs.
D4 – Gravity Incubators
Gravity convection incubators introduce heat into the bottom of the internal chamber and allow gravity to distribute the warmed air across the storage area as it rises. Gravity convection systems maintain lower air change rates than mechanical or forced-air units – ideal for labs storing non-aqueous samples prone to over-drying.
D5 – Mechanical Incubators
Mechanical convection incubators yield industry-leading temperature uniformity by utilizing a fan to distribute heated air across the internal chamber. Given their higher air change rate, mechanical convection incubators quickly warm samples transferred from cold storage without evaporating the growth media.
E – Voltages
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E1 – 120 Incubators
120-volt connections are suitable for standard residential power outlets in the US.
E2 – 240 Incubators
240-volt connections require less current (amperage) and smaller conductors than appliances designed to operate at 120V.
F – Special Application Features - Incubator Function in Microbiology
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F1 – B.O.D. Incubator Applications
Biological Oxygen Demand (B.O.D.) applications determine the amount of pollution within a water sample by quantifying the oxygen consumed by microorganisms as they decompose organic matter. BOD incubators utilize Peltier coolers to maintain precise temperature uniformity for wastewater treatment, germination studies and plant cultivation.
View BOD Incubator Specifications
F2 – Drosophila Culture Incubators
Drosophila incubators maintain optimal conditions for fruit fly culturing by incorporating day-night light cycling (through an internal LED light), Peltier thermo-cooling (for over-temperature protection), and mechanical convection (for rapid temperature changes).
F3 – High Security Incubators
High security incubators utilize restricted access controls, such as fingerprint scanners and keycard readers, to protect high-value samples for clinical diagnostics, recombinant protein production, or gene expression.
F4 – Small Footprint Incubators
Compact models with optional stacking kits are ideal for crowded research labs or educational institutions with limited benchtop space.
F5 – Incubators with Timed On/Off Cycles
For samples with incubation protocols beyond the standard 48-hour culture cycle, advanced protocol models include digital controllers with timed on/off cycles for real-time sample monitoring.
F6 – Incubator with UV Lighting
The two primary methods for incubator chamber disinfection are UV sanitization and high-heat decontamination. Germicidal UV light, emitted at 254 nanometers, denatures microbial genetic material. Incubators with UV lighting are equipped with digital controllers and load presence sensors to prevent samples from UV exposure. High-heat decontamination cycles utilize hot, moist air to sterilize the inner chamber when the incubator is free of samples.
F7 – Stackable Incubators
Certain benchtop incubators are compatible with optional stacking kits capable of housing up to three small-footprint units. Stackable units are ideal for crowded labs culturing distinct cell lines that cannot be stored within a single incubator.
F8 – Remote Cell Culture Monitoring Incubators
Incubators with remote cell culture monitoring systems allow real-time, visual sample observation through a mobile app or LIMS integration.
G – Cell Culture Incubator Humidity and Co2 Controls
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G1 – CO2 Gas Incubators
CO2 carbon dioxide incubators use infrared or thermocouple sensors to maintain optimal conditions for cell and tissue culture growth. Optional CO2 alarms alert operators when their gas tank requires replacement.
G2 – Cell Culture Incubators - Humidity Control Co2 Incubators
Eukaryotic cells grow optimally at a humidity level of 95% RH. Incubators designed for clinical diagnostics utilize infrared sensors to maintain precise humidity levels to promote human cell growth.
G3 – O2 Gas Incubators
For anaerobic cell culturing or hypoxia studies, certain incubators include O2 gas control to reduce oxygen levels within the incubator down to 0.1%.
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Spectrophotometers & Analytical Equipment
