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Gel Documentation Systems

An Introduction To Gel Documentation 

Electrophoresis is an extremely common technique in molecular biology, used routinely to analyse DNA preparations in order to check quantity, size, structure and constitution of prepared samples. After separation on a gel (usually agarose), DNA is normally visualised under UV light after treatment with a fluorescent stain such as ethidium bromide. Electrophoresis is also used to study similar properties in protein samples though in this case, visualisation is normally under visible light after treatment with visible stains such as Coomassie or silver.

Whatever the sample or method of visualisation, it is often required or at least desirable to keep a record of the analysis for future reference and/or analysis. This can be achieved with instant photography to produce a “hard copy” print of the illuminated gel and its visible bands.  However, this method has been increasingly superseded by video documentation, which has two clear advantages: 

• Unlike with instant photography, a live video preview of the gel image can be seen prior to image “capture”.  
  
• The captured image can be saved as a computer file, which can be easily archived, printed when necessary and analysed, using suitable software.

In these days of routine, high throughput, analysis of DNA in particular, both of the above are enormously important to the efficiency of many research and analytical laboratories. The design of a gel documentation system should reflect not only the type of user and application, but also the number of users and the environment in which it is situated. The UVItec range therefore includes systems incorporating different levels of simplicity, portability, safety and robustness:

• UVIsave is preferable for users who require ultimate simplicity and portability and is ideal for small laboratories with limited budget and space.
• UVIdoc is the most versatile system combining simplicity, safety and robustness, with a good level of  functionality. It is ideal for large, multi-user groups with many occasional users.
• Xplorer is preferable for the more frequent, dedicated user who requires precise control over the image characteristics (brightness, contrast, background level).

The three video documentation systems UVIsave, UVIdoc  and Xplorer are all capable of capturing images from blots, autoradiograms and colony plates, in addition to their primary function of image capture from fluorescent gels. All images captured are potentially analysable using the software provided with the systems, or with the optional UVIsoft analysis software packages.