title: A wide-range, low-cost 150 bp ladder for sizing DNA fragments between 150 and 4500 bp.
abstract: Agarose gel electrophoresis, a very routine procedure, requires molecular weight standards; these are usually manufactured from plasmid or viral DNA fragments, or more recently, from PCR products of defined sizes. We describe here the preparation of a molecular weight standard from a completely different DNA source - the uniquely organized genome of the beetle Tenebrio molitor. The standard can be used to accurately size DNAs between 150 and 4500 bp, a useful range of sizes for many agarose gel electrophoresis applications, including separation of PCR products and plasmid cloning targets. In addition, it is easy to prepare, inexpensive, and rivals the best of the commercial ladders.
authors.affiliation: Department of Virology and Developmental Genetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben Gurion University of Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel.
authors.forename: Zeev
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Barvish
authors.forename: Claytus
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.forename: Inna
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Gitelman
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004247:DNA / Q000032:analysis* / Q000592:standards*; D004587:Electrophoresis, Agar Gel; D049750:Genome, Insect; D008970:Molecular Weight; D012015:Reference Standards; D013712:Tenebrio / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D004247:DNA