Laboratory Techniques – How to Stain and Photograph Gels

DNA Stain . Methylene Blue. Wear Gloves throughout staining process.

  1. Methylene Blue may be added to the agarose gel as the agarose mixture is cooling. The suggested stain is Ward’s DNA stain.
  2. After the gel is finished running. The best technique is to warm the stain in the microwave and place the gel in the stain in a staining tray or container. Evidently this hastens the staining process. Methylene Blue stains nucleic acids, DNA and RNA.
  3. After staining for at least ½ or more depending upon the visibility of bands, pour off the stain into a recycling beaker or bottle.
  4. Add distilled water and cover the gel. Agitate by gently shaking. When the water has become blue, pour off and add fresh distilled water. You may have to do this several times.
  5. When the bands of the DNA are visible against the background, use a spatula to pick up the gel and place it on the light box for viewing.
  6. If the contrast between the DNA bands and the gel background seems sufficient, place the Fotodyne Camera on over the light box. Use the Polaroid film to produce and image.
  7. Remember to keep your gloves on during this procedure as well. Gloves are required throughout this procedure.
  8. You may also choose to use the Gel support film from BIORAD to preeserve your gel. Place the gel on top of the film. Allow to dry down. This will produce a plastic gel that you can paste in your laboratory report.

 

Coomassie Protein Stain

  1. Put on your gloves.
  2. Remove gel from gel box with a spatula
  3. Place the gel in a staining tray.
  4. Cover with Coomassie Brilliant Blue Stain. This will color you, the desk, and the floor blue if you are not very careful.
  5. Allow to stain for an hour.
  6. Pour off the stain into a recycling bottle.
  7. Add the destain, which is a mixture of distilled water, acetic acid, and methanol
  8. Destain until background is pale purple.
  9. Use a spatula to place gel on light box.
  10. View and photograph.
  11. Use gel support film to preserve your gel is the gel is needed for your laboratory report.
  12. Dispose of gel in waste container when you are done
  13. Rinse staining containers

Don’t remove your gloves until you are done