EtBr in polyacrylamide gels

[Austin P. So (Hae Jin)]

Emre Oktem wrote:
> We are trying to visualize DNA in polyacrylamide gels. Is there any reason
> why we shouldn't put EtBr in a polyacrylamide gel before polymerizing it
> just like we do in agarose gels instead of staining it later? In the
> literature I couldn't see such a technique.
> I feel that there is a drawback, what can it be?

polymerization of acrylamide is a free-radical catalyzed reaction...so 
it will alter the (photo)chemical properties of EtBr.

Austin