📋 Workflow
Full workflow, products add-to-cart directly1
Prepare gel
30 minCast gel from agarose (nucleic acid) or polyacrylamide (protein), insert comb to form wells
💡 Tip Gel % matches fragment size
⚠️ Caution Heat to dissolve, swirl to avoid bubbles
🧪 Materials for this step (click to shop by spec/brand)
2
Loading
10 minMix samples with loading dye, load into wells alongside DNA ladder
💡 Tip Ladder calibrates sizes
⚠️ Caution Consistent loading for comparison
🧪 Materials for this step (click to shop by spec/brand)
3
Run
30–60 minFill tank with running buffer, apply voltage/current until the dye front reaches target
💡 Tip Excess voltage blurs bands
⚠️ Caution Check electrode orientation
🧪 Materials for this step (click to shop by spec/brand)
4
Stain and image
20 minStain with nucleic acid dye or protein stain, image under UV or gel documentation system
💡 Tip Use safe low-toxicity DNA dye
⚠️ Caution Protect eyes from UV
🧪 Materials for this step (click to shop by spec/brand)
⚠️ 5 Common Beginner Mistakes
- ① Wrong gel % gives poor separation
- ② Excess voltage blurs and diffuses bands
- ③ Overloading causes smearing
- ④ Reused buffer changes conductivity
- ⑤ Reversed electrodes run samples off gel
❓ FAQ
+How to choose gel concentration?
Higher agarose for small fragments, lower for large; SDS-PAGE gradient for proteins.
+Bands blurred/smearing?
Lower voltage, reduce loading, fresh buffer, ensure uniform gel.
+Ladder ran past?
Shorten run time and predict marker position from dye front.