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May 24, 2023
Science
How to save money using SafeGel from Genaxxon as DNA staining dye for gel electrophoresis
Everything seemed to be easier in the past. At least that’s true when it comes to staining DNA in agarose gels. Ethidium bromide was the agent of choice, despite its mutagenic effect and costly disposal. Today, one is spoilt for choice. But which DNA staining dye is the right one? GelRed® as an alternative is non-toxic and has a high sensitivity, but the price makes one cringe.
Genaxxon can now put you at ease with SafeGel, a fluorescent dye comparable to GelRed®, but significantly more cost-efficient. Learn in this blog post why you should trust SafeGel as a DNA staining dye in your lab to save real money and still produce accurate results.
Agarose gel electrophoresis has become an indispensable part of everyday laboratory life. But a lot has changed since its invention in the late seventies. The equipment is modern and the separation of DNA in the agarose gel has been optimised. The only question that remains is optimal visualisation. Ethidium bromide, despite its mutagenic effect and costly disposal, was for decades the medium of choice for staining DNA in agarose gels. Why? Besides its reliability, ethidium bromide was one thing above all: cheap!
In the meantime, you will find a colourful range of different DNA staining dyes on the market. Most of them are less toxic than ethidium bromide and at least as sensitive, if not more so. But the cost of these less dangerous dyes, such as GelRed®, makes many old ethidium bromide users cringe. Fortunately, Genaxxon now offers a solution: the extremely sensitive fluorescent dye SafeGel is an alternative that is not only kinder to the environment, but also to your wallet.
SafeGel is more environmentally friendly and significantly less toxic than ethidium bromide.
Like ethidium bromide, SafeGel is a fluorescent dye for staining nucleic acids that intercalates directly with DNA. Yet despite this direct binding to DNA, a series of safety tests confirm that the dye is non-toxic, non-mutagenic and non-hazardous when used at the recommended working concentration. Why? As the Ames test results show, SafeGel is impenetrable to latex gloves and cell membranes - and therefore non-toxic to living cells.
SafeGel can be disposed down the drain in regular trash without any problems.
As SafeGel is non-toxic, non-mutagenic and non-hazardous when used at the recommended working concentration, it can easily be disposed of with regular trash. Separate handling of the waste such as with ethidium bromide is therefore not necessary. Nevertheless, if necessary, check with your local waste disposal company about any local disposal requirements.
SafeGel is more sensitive than ethidium bromide or other low-cost fluorescent dyes.
While some alternative fluorescent dyes lose sensitivity to ethidium bromide, SafeGel, like GelRed®, has significantly higher sensitivity. In fact, SafeGel is much more sensitive than ethidium bromide without requiring a destaining step.
SafeGel can also be detected with "blue light."
SafeGel has the same emission spectrum as ethidium bromide, so you can use your existing imaging system without any problems. In addition, SafeGel can also be detected with "blue light", whereby the signal is somewhat lower than in the UV range.
SafeGel is easy on your wallet.
With SafeGel you can save real money. The cost of SafeGel is about 1/3 of what you would pay for GelRed®. In addition, by having the ability to dispose of it in your regular trash, you save on any additional disposal costs. The possibility of direct "in-slot application" also saves laboratory material and costs.
Switch to SafeGel from Genaxxon now! Your wallet will thank you!
Any further questions? Contact us: info@genaxxon.com
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