CASTING METAPHOR AGAROSE GELS

[John Wolff]

In article <31BD9671.4D02 at acs.tamu.edu>, pjb6578 at acs.tamu.edu wrote:

> I have had a difficult time trying to get consistent 
> results running microsatellites on 4% Metaphor 
> agarose gel.  The gels always run crooked.  One side 
> of my 34 lane, 3mm gel always runs faster than the 
> other.  Yet there is no pattern to it; sometimes the 
> left side runs faster, sometimes the right, and 
> sometimes the middle.  I thought the problem was due 
> to an unlevel casting tray, but I always use a 
> leveler to make sure.  I then thought maybe my 
> agarose was hardening before it spread out so I tried 
> submerging the Bio-rad casting tray under warm water 
> (about 65degC) the same temp as the agarose being 
> poured. I even tried using a 3% gel but got the same 
> results. I have never had so much trouble casting a 
> gel before. 
> Does anyone out know any tricks to casting Metaphor 
> gels consistently?  Thanks.
> Perry

Is the apparatus level, or unevenly cooled, when you run it?