Endurance of SYBR Safe in Agarose Gel Electrophoresis
Faculty Sponsor
Beth Scaglione-Sewell
College
Arts and Sciences
Discipline(s)
Biology
Presentation Type
Oral Presentation
Symposium Date
Spring 5-2-2015
Abstract
SYBR Safe is used for the detection of DNA. SYBR Safe is a safe alternative to ethidium bromide and it is more cost effective. The endurance of SYBR Safe is of special interest to teaching labs, like Valparaiso University. 0.7% agarose gels were poured with SYBR Safe, electrophoresed, and examined under Ultraviolet light to detect fluorescent DNA bands. When poured under ambient light, all of the bands could be visually detected up to three days after a gel was poured. When poured in the dark, all DNA bands were detectable for up to five days after the gel was poured.
On a SYBR Safe gel that was electrophoresed immediately after pouring and setting one hour, in ambient light or in the dark, the entire amount of DNA loaded onto the gel was detected under UV light. After 24 hours (+/- 1 hour) of storage at approximately 4o Celsius, some DNA bands were undetectable, as degradation increased daily. It is necessary to capture a photograph of data immediately to ensure that all DNA bands are visible. Gels poured at 4o C had tighter bands, but had lower intensity under UV light than gels poured at room temperature (24o C).
Recommended Citation
Sopetti, Michelle B. and Hargrave, Lauren J., "Endurance of SYBR Safe in Agarose Gel Electrophoresis" (2015). Symposium on Undergraduate Research and Creative Expression (SOURCE). 417.
https://scholar.valpo.edu/cus/417
Biographical Information about Author(s)
Michelle Sopetti is a biology major, psychology minor, Christ College associate. She will be attending IUPUI in the fall to become a doctor of physical therapy.
Lauren Hargrave is a biology major, chemistry minor, and Christ College associate. She hopes to attend graduate school to become a physician assistant.