Agarose gel electrophoresis of linear genomic DNA in the presence of ethidium bromide: band shifting and implications for forensic identity testing.
We demonstrate that agarose gel electrophoresis of linear duplex DNA in the presence of ethidium bromide has a marked effect on the mobility of genomic DNA fragments detected by Southern hybridization. Mobility shifts of greater than 6% of the actual molecular weight were detected when different amounts of the same DNA sample were analyzed in 1.0% agarose gels containing 0.5 micrograms ml-1 ethidium bromide. For forensic applications, shifts of this magnitude could complicate the task of comparing restriction fragment length polymorphism profiles and introduce a degree of uncertainty to allele frequency population databases.
Waye
J S
JS
Central Forensic Laboratory, Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
Fourney
R M
RM
D004247:DNA / Q000032:analysis* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D016208:Databases, Factual; D015252:Deoxyribonucleases, Type II Site-Specific; D004587:Electrophoresis, Agar Gel / Q000379:methods*; D004996:Ethidium / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005554:Forensic Medicine; D006801:Humans; D008970:Molecular Weight; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization; D012150:Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length
D004247:DNA; D015252:Deoxyribonucleases, Type II Site-Specific; C024403:GGCC-specific type II deoxyribonucleases; D004996:Ethidium