Homemade DNA ladder?

[Michael L. Sullivan]

>Hi everybody,
>
>Noticing that my lab is using an awful lot of DNA ladder, and that 
>it's has gotten very expensive
>from the companies (especially now that certain companies have 
>merged with or been absorbed
>by others).
>
>Wondering whether everyone out there is just buying it, or making 
>their own.  Lambda/HindIII is
>OK but of course it would be better to have something with standard 
>sizes, a bunch of sizes in the
>lower range, etc.
>
>Is there an easy way to make a nice one of your own?
>
>Thanks!
>

Double digestion of lambda with EcoRI and HindIII gives a really nice 
range of fragments for the larger range.  Not sure about the lower 
range.

I have to admit, I routinely now by premade ladders.  The one I use 
most often is the 1 kb ladder from NEB (no affiliation) which ends up 
costing about $0.25/lane (assuming a load of 0.5 ug).  I do like the 
convenience and having very regular sizes to the markers.

Mike
-- 

Michael L. Sullivan, Ph.D
Research Plant Molecular 
Geneticist                                                            
U.S. Dairy Forage Research Center
1925 Linden Drive West
Madison WI, 53706

(608) 264-5397 Phone
(608) 264-5147 Fax
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