Gel electrophoresis is an analytical laboratory tool that has an eerie resemblance to science fiction.
Mix a few mysterious solutions, add a jolt of electricity and watch it spring to life and move!
What is DNA gel electrophoresis?
The principles of electrophoresis have been in use since the 1800s but its application for analyzing DNA fragments took off in 1972.
A gel matrix typically made up of agarose is poured and allowed to set. Comb spacers are inserted into the stiffening gel to create lanes.
Nucleic acid fragments are stained and loaded into these lanes. When a current is applied, the pieces separate based on their ionic charges and form bands.
Using UV or blue LED lights, these bands can be visualized and measured to calculate their properties.
As gel electrophoresis developed into a standard laboratory tool, improvements have been made to make processing nucleic acids faster and more efficient for lab technicians.
Hoefer was one of the earliest companies to produce gel electrophoresis systems and has more than fifty years of experience.
What comes in the box when you buy a Hoefer DNA gel system?
The photo below shows all the components that are included with the SUB10 gel system.
The base of the unit is made from thick polycarbonate with welded joints to ensure a long life of service even with less-than-gentle laboratory technicians.
Bold lettering ensures the correct amount of buffer is used without overfilling the system.
Designed for simplicity and efficiency, you can pour and cast your gels using the same trays for running the gels.
The secret is the rubber gaskets that help form a leak-proof seal when the casting tray is inserted into the gel box.
All Hoefer gel boxes come with two combs for creating loading wells.
Depending on the number of samples the lab wants to resolve, combs with different dimensions are available as optional accessories.
Where can I buy Hoefer gel electrophoresis boxes?
Stellar Scientific is an authorized dealer for Hoefer products.
In addition to their nucleic acid systems, Stellar Scientific carries the full catalog of protein systems and accessories as well.