DNA Purification

DNA purification is a step in a process of sample preparation that removes enzymes, salts and other contaminants from lysed samples and products of PCR prior to processes like cloning or sequencing. It also removes unwanted PCR-induced artefacts such as primer dimers and unincorporated nucleotides. DNA purification in molecular biological research is a critical step that requires careful planning to ensure reliable, high-quality results.

There are numerous approaches to the purification of DNA. The conventional methods for DNA isolation comprise a variety of steps, such as leukocyte separation or red blood cell lysis to remove inhibitors of heme protein of the PCR reaction. They also include deproteinization, RNAse treatment as well as precipitation using isopropanol and ethanol and then DNA elution. The majority of these procedures require special equipment like an electrophoresis system as well as a biosafety cabinet because of the dangerous intercalating dyes used in the electrophoresis gel.

Other methods for purifying DNA use spin columns or 96 well filter plates to remove contaminated particles by adsorbing them to the surface of the plate or column. These approaches can be very time-consuming, particularly when working with large amounts of samples or when the columns need to be refilled manually with new reagents.

Dipsticks decrease the number of sample processing steps from six to three. They bind nucleic acid using waxy cellulose and https://mpsciences.com/2021/04/23/dna-purification-processes-for-different-applications/ subsequently release them when in contact with water. This method is especially useful in low resource settings, such as remote sites and teaching labs. Its simplicity and speed (30 s for each sample) makes it ideal for molecular diagnostics like disease detection, genotype screening, and heterozygosity testing.