DNA Purification

DNA purification is the process in a sample preparation workflow that eliminates enzymes, salts and other contaminants from lysed samples or products of PCR prior to applications like cloning and sequencing. It also eliminates unwanted PCR-induced artefacts such as https://mpsciences.com/2021/04/15/gene-synthesis-and-transcription-processes/ primer dimers and nucleotides not integrated. DNA purification is an essential step in molecular biology that requires careful planning to achieve top-quality, reliable results.

The process of purifying DNA can be accomplished in various ways. Traditional DNA isolation methods require several steps, including leukocyte separation or red blood cell lysis to eliminate hemoproteins that hinder the PCR reaction, deproteinization and treatment of RNAse, ethanol and isopropanol precipitation, and finally DNA elimination. These methods require specialized equipment, such as an electrophoresis machine and biosafety cabinets because of the intercalating dyes that are used in electrophoresis on gels.

Other methods for DNA purification utilize spin columns or 96-well filter plates to separate contaminants by adsorbing to the surface. These methods can be lengthy, especially if you are working with a large number of samples or if the columns need to be manually refilled.

Dipsticks reduce the number of sample processing steps from six to three. They bind nucleic acid using the cellulose-based waxy material and then release them when in contact with water. This method is especially useful in low resource settings, like remote sites and teaching labs. Its simplicity (30 s per sample) makes it suitable for molecular diagnostic tests such as disease detection and genotype screening.