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Measuring DNA
Moderators: AmyCowen, kgudger, MadelineB, Moderators
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deleted-112352
- Posts: 3
- Joined: Fri Oct 05, 2012 8:58 am
- Occupation: Student
- Project Question: Preparing for science fair.
- Project Due Date: June 2013
- Project Status: I am just starting
Measuring DNA
Hi I am trying to figure out how to measure dna. In our project we are exposing DNA with radiation. I have experience in gel electrophoreis and agar plates. I would like to know if there is a machine that can measure DNA precisely.
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donnahardy2
- Former Expert
- Posts: 2671
- Joined: Mon Nov 14, 2005 12:45 pm
Re: Measuring DNA
Hi Roy,
This is a great subject for a science project! There are a number of methods for measure DNA:
DNA adsorbs UV light at 260 nm, so if you have a spectrophotometer that measures absorbance at this wavelength and if you DNA is in solution, this would be a good method. Here is a typical protocol with details included:
http://www.mc.vanderbilt.edu/root/pdfs/ ... ometer.pdf
Here is a site that includes a method for measuring DNA using ethidium bromide, which is a fluorescent molecule, This would be suitable for samples that are in agarose gels. This dye is carcinogenic, so you need to be careful when working with it.
http://www.protocol-online.org/prot/Gen ... on/index.h
ml
Do you have access to a lab with a densitometer? Please let me know more details about your experiment and what resources you have available. This will help identify the optimum method for you to use.
Donna Hardy
This is a great subject for a science project! There are a number of methods for measure DNA:
DNA adsorbs UV light at 260 nm, so if you have a spectrophotometer that measures absorbance at this wavelength and if you DNA is in solution, this would be a good method. Here is a typical protocol with details included:
http://www.mc.vanderbilt.edu/root/pdfs/ ... ometer.pdf
Here is a site that includes a method for measuring DNA using ethidium bromide, which is a fluorescent molecule, This would be suitable for samples that are in agarose gels. This dye is carcinogenic, so you need to be careful when working with it.
http://www.protocol-online.org/prot/Gen ... on/index.h
ml
Do you have access to a lab with a densitometer? Please let me know more details about your experiment and what resources you have available. This will help identify the optimum method for you to use.
Donna Hardy