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We offer a range of ultra pure, high-quality reagents for a variety of molecular biology applications such as nucleic acid electrophoresis, nucleic acid purification and sequencing, PCR and more.

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Nucleic Acid Electrophoresis

Fisher BioReagents offers a wide range of reagents for Nucleic Acid Electrophoresis applications. Choosing the right reagents will allow you to achieve optimal results in your experiment. Use our quick selection guides to assist you in finding the right grades of Agarose, Buffer and Ladders.

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Agarose

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Agarose is a linear polysaccharide composed of alternating residues of D- and L-galactose that are joined by glycosidic linkages. Agarose forms gels that are both porous and resilient. These gel properties provide a sieving matrix, which allows the electrophoretic separation of charged macromolecules, such as DNA or RNA, according to size. Compared to polyacrylamide gel, agarose has a lower resolution but wider range of separation. Lower grades of agarose can be contaminated with other polysaccharides, salts and proteins. Such impurities can alter the gelling/melting temperature of agarose solutions or affect the ability to use the recovered nucleic acid sample in a post-electrophoresis application.

Fisher BioReagents offers three different grades of agarose that are functionally tested and pre-qualified for specific applications. Agarose grades used in electrophoresis of nucleic acids:

  • Genetic Analysis Grade - Agarose that yields biologically active DNA or RNA. Testing includes enzymatic performance measurements
  • Molecular Biology Grade - Suitable for analytical separation of DNA or RNA
  • PCR Grade - The original agarose for analytical separation of PCR amplicons (<1kb)

 Factors to Consider When Selecting an Agarose:

1. Size of DNA or RNA fragments to be analyzed:

AgaroseAgarose Separation Ranges
Low EEO/Multipurpose500bp to 23kb
Low Melting/Nucleic Acid Recovery200bp to 25kb
Broad Separation Range for DNA/RNA500bp to 25kb
Low Melting <1kb DNA/RNA50bp to 1kb
Intermediate Melting15bp to 1.2kb

2. Type of downstream application that will follow electrophoretic separation (eg. cloning procedures directly from re-melted agarose or in-gel reaction).

Aragose Selection Guide

Type of AgaroseLow EEOLow Melting > 200bpLow Melting > 1000bpWide Separation RangePCR Grade
Recovery of DNA and RNAxxxxx
Southern and Northern Biotsx    
DNA/RNA Separation 50bp to 1kb  x x
DNA/RNA Separation > 1kbxx x 
PCR Fragment Analysisxxxxx
In-gel Reactions (ligation, transformations, PCR)  x  
Colony Liftsx    
Available Pack Sizes100g to 500g25g100g100g to 500g100g
Agarose GradeMolecular BiologyMolecular BiologyGenetic AnalysisGenetic AnalysisPCR
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Buffer

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Two buffers commonly used for DNA agarose electrophoresis are Tris-acetate with EDTA (TAE; 40mM Tris-acetate, 1mM EDTA) and Tris-borate with EDTA (TBE, 89mM Tris-borate, 2mM EDTA). Because the pH of these buffers is neutral, the phosphate backbone of DNA has a net negative charge and migrates toward the anode. TAE and TBE have different properties, which makes one more suitable than the other for a specific purpose.

The denaturing system chosen depends on the purpose of the RNA experiment and the size of the RNA fragment being separated. Formaldehyde denaturation is suitable if RNA samples are to be recovered. Formamide denaturation is suitable if the RNA needs to retain its biological activity.

 

BufferSuggested UsesProperties
TAEDNA recovery; Electrophoresis of large DNA (>12 kb)Low buffering capacity; recirculation may be necessary for extended run times (>6 hr)
TBEElectrophoresis of small DNA (<1 kb); Increased resolution of small DNA (< 1kb)Decreased DNA mobility; High buffering capacity - no recirculation required for extended run times
MOPSElectrophoresis of formaldehyde denatured RNABuffer is low in ionic strength; recirculation of buffer may be necessary

 

Suggested Agarose Concentrations

The optimal gel concentration depends on the size of the DNA fragments to be resolved.

Product DescriptionMain ApplicationDNA Size Range in Base PairsFinal Agarose Concentation % (W/V) 1x TAE BufferFinal Agarose Concentration % (W/V) 1x TBE Buffer
Agarose
Low Melting, <1kb
DNA/RNA,
Genetic Analysis
Grade
Certified recovery of small
nucleic acid fragments,
Outstanding resolution.
500-1,0002.52.0
150-7003.02.5
100-4503.53.0
70-3004.03.5
10-1004.54.0
8-5005.04.5
Agarose
Low Melting, Nucleic<1kb
Acid Recovery,
Molecular Biology
Grade
Broad separation range,
Ideal for DNA and RNA
recovery after
electrophoretic separation.
500-25,0000.750.70
300-20,0001.00.85
200-12,0001.251.00
150-6,0001.501.25
100-3,0001.751.50
50-2,0002.01.75
Agarose
Broad Separation
Range for DNA/RNA,
Genetic Analysis
Grade
Suitable for routine nucleic
acid electrophoresis
applications with broad
separation range.
1,000-23,0000.600.50
800-10,0000.800.70
400-8,0001.000.85
300-7,0001.201.00
200-4,0001.501.25
100-3,0002.001.75
Agarose
Low-EEO/Multi-
Purpose,
Molecular Biology
Grade
Routine electrophoresis of
DNA and RNA. High gel
strength ideal for Southern
and Northern blotting.
1,000-23,0000.600.50
800-10,0000.800.70
400-8,0001.000.85
300-7,0001.201.00
200-4,0001.501.25
100-3,0002.001.75
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Ladders

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To achieve the most accurate qualitative and quantitative analysis via agarose gel electrophoresis, the appropriate DNA or RNA standard is required. Fisher BioReagents provides a wide range of standards, including routine DNA ladders for quick size and quality assessment as well as Fisher Bioreagents™ exACTGene™ DNA ladders that allow for quantitative analysis.

 

Fisher Bioreagents™ RiboLadders™ RNA Standards

These standards can be used to assess single-stranded RNA molecules on both native and denaturing agarose gels. These unique RNA standards are lyophilized to reduce thawing-related degradation, to prolong shelf life and to ensure consistent performance.

ApplicationSize RangeNumber of BandsNumber of Loadings
Small RNA fragments0.1-1kb850
Large RNA fragments0.2-4kb950

Routine DNA Ladders/RiboLadders™ RNA Standards

 

exACTGene and Routine DNA Ladders

Ready-to-use (pre-mixed with the loading dye), room temperature, stable DNA ladders are available for all common electrophoresis applications.

ApplicationSize RangeNumbers of BandsNumber of Loadings
exACTGene DNA ladders are ideal for qualitative analysis, quantitative estimation, and size assessment
PCR fragment analysis25-650bp14100-10uL
PCR fragment analysis, small DNA digests25-1,000bp12100/10uL
Quick check of PCR or enzyme digestion results50-2,000bp8100/10uL
General purpose, small DNA fragments100-1,000bp10100/10uL
Fast run times, small DNA fragments100-2,000bp8100/10uL
Clone identification100-2,686bp14100/10uL
Large size PCR or cloning100-2,000bp10100/10uL
Small or large cloning application100-5,000bp16100/10uL
General purpose, large digested DNA300-10,000bp13100/10uL
General purpose, wide size range100/10,000bp19100/10uL
General purpose, extra-large fragments300-24,000bp15100/10uL
Routine DNA ladders are designed for qualitative analysis and size assessment
small fragments, quick size assessment50-2,000bp11200/5uL
Quick size assessment of broad size range50-10,000bp16200/5uL

exACTGene DNA Ladders: Routine DNA Ladders/RiboLadders™ RNA Standards

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