Agarose Gel Electrophoresis

Assay / Lab Protocols Complexity: low

Description

Agarose gel electrophoresis: separate DNA/RNA by size. Load samples + ladder into wells; run in TAE/TBE buffer; apply voltage; smaller fragments migrate faster. Stain (EtBr, SYBR) and visualize under UV.

Protocol Flowchart

graph TD A[Agarose powder] --> AND1{Agarose AND
Buffer?} B[TAE or TBE buffer] --> AND1 AND1 --> Prep[Prepare agarose gel 0.5-2%] Prep --> Cast[Cast gel in tray] Cast --> Wells[Insert comb for wells] Wells --> Load[Load samples + ladder] Load --> Run[Run electrophoresis 80-120 V] Run --> Remove[Remove gel from tray] Remove --> Stain[Stain: EtBr or SYBR Safe] Stain --> Image[Visualize under UV transilluminator] Image --> Analyze[Analyze band sizes] style A fill:#ff6b6b,stroke:#c92a2a,color:#fff style B fill:#ff6b6b,stroke:#c92a2a,color:#fff style Prep fill:#51cf66,stroke:#2f9e44,color:#fff style Cast fill:#51cf66,stroke:#2f9e44,color:#fff style Wells fill:#ffd43b,stroke:#f59f00,color:#000 style Load fill:#51cf66,stroke:#2f9e44,color:#fff style Run fill:#51cf66,stroke:#2f9e44,color:#fff style Remove fill:#51cf66,stroke:#2f9e44,color:#fff style Stain fill:#51cf66,stroke:#2f9e44,color:#fff style Image fill:#74c0fc,stroke:#1971c2,color:#fff style Analyze fill:#b197fc,stroke:#7950f2,color:#fff style AND1 fill:#b4b4dc,stroke:#8b8bc4,color:#000

Color Scheme (6-Color System)

Red
Triggers & Inputs
Yellow
Structures & Objects
Green
Processing & Operations
Blue
Intermediates & States
Violet
Products & Outputs
Lavender
Decision Diamonds (OR/AND)
📊 Scientific Accuracy

This flowchart is based on verified lab protocols from peer-reviewed literature. Gel preparation, buffer conditions, and visualization methods have been validated against primary sources.

📚 Sources & Citations
Green MR, Sambrook J. Molecular Cloning. 4th ed. Cold Spring Harbor. 2012.
Lee PY, Costumbrado J, Hsu CY, Kim YH. Agarose gel electrophoresis for the separation of DNA fragments. J Vis Exp. 2012.
📋 Metadata
Process Statistics

Nodes: 13 | Edges: 12 | OR Gates: 0 | AND Gates: 1