Reply: DN Ligation

[Pamela Norton]

In article <DoMMJr.9q6 at ncifcrf.gov>, pnh at cockleberry.ncifcrf.gov (Paul N
Hengen) wrote:

> : Did you change the lamps of your UV-Transiluminator lately? New and 
> : stronger lamps might damage your DNA while cutting the slices out of 
> : the gel.
> 
> Is it that the lamps change over time, becoming less strong, or is
> it that the newer lamps on the market are stronger? I'm curious
> why replacing the lamp would cause more damage to your DNA?

snip
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   The former is certainly true. The UV light slowly damages the glass
filter that lies atop the bulbs. This results in less and less UV reaching
the sample over time. I believe that buffers and salts can etch the glass,
and also tend to decrease the transmitted light.

      Pam Norton



P.S. Nice web site, Paul; thanks!

-- 
Pamela A. Norton, Ph.D.          Assistant Professor of Medicine
Thomas Jefferson University
Philadelphia, PA 19107           p_norton at lac.jci.tju.edu