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3.6 Gel Staining and Viewing
The Multi Sub trays allow staining to be performed without removing the gel from the tray if this is preferred.
1.
Transfer the gel to a vessel containing the appropriate volume of 0.5 µg/ml ethidium bromide stain for 15–
30 minutes, see solutions for stock stain concentration and adjust to the volume used accordingly. The
entire gel should be covered.
NOTE: Ethidium bromide is a suspected carcinogen and the necessary safety precautions should be
undertaken.
2.
De-stain the gel for 10–30 minutes in distilled water again ensuring the gel is completely immersed.
3.
Rinse the gel twice for a couple of seconds with distilled water.
4.
Transfer the gel to a UV Transilluminator.
5.
The samples will often appear as brighter, clearer bands when photographed or viewed using a gel
documentation system. However if the gel bands are too faint then the staining procedure should be
adjusted so that there is less de-staining. If there is too much background then the staining procedure
should be adjusted so that there is more de-staining.
3.7 Solutions
1x TAE 40 mM tris (pH 7.6), 20 mM acetic acid, 1 mM EDTA.
50x (1L) dissolve in 750 ml distilled water:
242 g tris base (FW = 121)
57.1 ml glacial acetic acid
100 ml 0.5 M EDTA (pH 8.0).
Fill to 1 litre with distilled water.
