pouring sequencing gels

[nsaunders at molbiol.ox.ac.uk]

Yes, what is the "usual way" to pour a sequencing gel. We have the simplest 
method of all, judging by what I've read so far; tape the sides and bottom, 
clamp the sides with bulldog clips, mix the gel in a conical flask and just 
tip it in! Well, not quite 'just tip'; you hold the plates by the bottom 
corner with one hand and tuck the opposite corner into your armpit, hold it at 
about 45 degrees and sloping away from you and pour slowly into one corner. 
The mix flows down one edge, across the bottom and rises up to fill the gel, 
any bubbles flow along this path and quickly rise to the top and burst. Then 
just gently lay it down and pop the combs in at the top. And you need nice, 
clean plates, goes without saying. Ours are scrubbed with detergent, rinsed, 
wiped thoroughly with alcohol and dried. 

I guess it's a bit hard to describe without seeing it; point is, there's a lot 
of fancy bits and pieces in molecular biology that noone actually needs.

Neil

nsaunders at molbiol.ox.ac.uk