METROL

project

methods

(DNA extraction continued)

Controls for quality and quantity of extracted DNA

DNA purification

Alternatively, the DNA can be purified via dialysis (a desalting method based on osmosis: due to osmotic pressure, low-molecular substances diffuse through a semi-permeable membrane into a salt-free dialysis reservoir, while high-molecular substances (DNA) are retained by the membrane).

Agarose gel electrophoresis

Reagents and solutions:

50 x TAE buffer
2 M Tris-HCl
0.95 M Acetic acid
50 mM EDTA (pH 8.0)

Loading buffer
0.5 % (w/v) SDS
1-2% (w/v) Bromophenol Blue
40% (w/v) Saccharose
0.1 M ETDA (pH 8.0)

Reference:

Zhou J., Bruns M. A., and Tiedje J. M. (1996) DNA Recovery from soils of diverse composition. Applied and Environmental Microbiology 62, 316-322.