Biochemical Techniques and Instrumentation

Qualitative and quantitative analysis of DNA by Agarose Electrophoresis

Quantification is necessary to ascertain the approximate quantity of DNA obtained after extraction. Similarly the analysis of quality is important to examine the suitability of DNA sample for further analysis. They are important for many applications such as digestion by restriction enzymes or PCR amplification of target DNA. The most commonly used methodologies for quantifying the amount of nucleic acid in a preparation are: (i) gel electrophoresis; and (ii) spectrophotometric analysis. If the quantity of sample is less, the former method is usually preferred.