Abstract: A blotting apparatus for transferring electrophoretically separated material from electrophoresis gels in a transfer stack. The device includes a resilient anode surface for more consistent transfer of DNA from DNA sequencing gels in the transfer stack to an immobilizing membrane. The anode surface is smaller than the cathode surface, and is mounted on a carrier arm which moves the anode surface over the membrane during transfer.

Abstract: Improved resolution of proteins and other macro molecules in gel electrophoresis is obtained by causing the molecules to move through the gel under the influence of an electrical potential, the polarity of which is intermittently reversed. While the current is reversed for a brief period, any molecules that have become trapped in pores in the gel have an opportunity to escape. For proteins, the frequency of current reversal should be from 1 to 5,000 reversals per second and the influence of the reverse current should not be greater than 50% of the forward or driving current. Current reversal can be used in combination with multiple transverse electrical fields.

Abstract: A vertical gel sandwich for use in electrophoresis and a method of assembling is provided by the use of a pair of T-shaped spacers between the two plates of a gel sandwich. The stem of the T spaces the plates apart to form the gel slot and the head of the T being flush with the sides of both plates provides for alignment of the spacers and also prevents shifting.

Abstract: A vertical gel slab electrophoresis apparatus includes a pair of sample units (12, 13) each of which is a pair of clamped together, spaced glass plates (23a, 23b and 24a, 24b) for containing the gel (21, 22). A casting stand is provided which holds the pair of sample units vertical and seals their bottom slots (26, 27) to prevent leakage of the gel. After polymerization, an upper buffer solution container (33) is locked on to the pair of sample units, the casting stand removed, and the remaining U-shaped structure placed in a tank (11) where electrophoresis may be initiated.A specialized seal is provided between the sample units and the upper buffer chamber (33) in the form of a resilient gasket (36, 37) stretched over the one end of a pair of sample plates and this is then wedged into a mated truncated conical sleeve extending from the bottom (34) of the upper buffer container to provide a seal which effectively isolates the upper buffer solution (32) from the lower buffer solution (28).

Abstract: A vertical gel electrophoresis apparatus includes a U-shaped structure consisting of a container for upper buffer solution and extending parallel plate sample units which form the legs of the U. In the casting mode the U-shaped structure is inverted with the tank resting on the ground surface and with the bottom ends of the sample units being sealed against the sealing strip on the top of the container. After the sample units are filled to the top and the gel polymerized (with the use of a comblike well forming structure if needed) the sample units are flipped and reinserted. However because of the offset of the plates of the sample units in the lateral direction the formerly sealed end of the sample plates is now exposed to a slot or aperture which extends into the upper buffer solution container. The entire U-shaped structure rests in a tank of lower buffer solution on a slab type heat exchanger where cooling can occur on both sides of the sample units.

Abstract: A vertical gel electrophoresis apparatus includes a U-shaped structure consisting of a container for upper buffer solution and extending parallel plate sample units which form the legs of the U. In the casting mode the U-shaped structure is inverted with the tank resting on the ground surface and with the bottom ends of the sample units being sealed against the sealing strip on the top of the container. After the sample units are filled to the top and the gel polymerized (with the use of a comblike well forming structure if needed) the sample units are flipped and reinserted. However because of the offset of the plates of the sample units in the lateral direction the formerly sealed end of the sample plates is now exposed to a slot or aperture which extends into the upper buffer solution container. The entire U-shaped structure rests in a tank of lower buffer solution on a slab type heat exchanger where cooling can occur on both sides of the sample units.

Abstract: A vertical gel electrophoresis apparatus includes a U-shaped structure consisting of a container for upper buffer solution and extending parallel plate sample units which form the legs of the U. In the casting mode the U-shaped structure is inverted with the tank resting on the ground surface and with the bottom ends of the sample units being sealed against the sealing strip on the top of the container. After the sample units are filled to the top and the gel polymerized (with the use of a comblike well forming structure if needed) the sample units are flipped and reinserted. However because of the offset of the plates of the sample units in the lateral direction the formerly sealed end of the sample plates is now exposed to a slot or aperture which extends into the upper buffer solution container. The entire U-shaped structure rests in a tank of lower buffer solution on a slab type heat exchanger where cooling can occur on both sides of the sample units.

Abstract: Electrophoretic separation of samples in a running gel is obtained by depositing three layers of liquid in an outer container. The liquid layers have increasing specific gravities proceding from the uppermost to the lowermost layer. The upper and lower layers are electrically conductive buffer solutions which are immiscible with the center layer which is electrically insulating. A rack is provided for holding running gels in the outer container so that the upper end of the gels are in contact with the upper buffer layer and the lower end of the gels are in contact with the lower buffer layer. An upper and a lower electrode is provided in contact with each of the upper and lower buffer solutions respectively.

Abstract: A device for performing electrophoretic separation of samples in a tube shaped gel. An outer container has an open upper end and side walls joined by a bottom closure. An upper buffer chamber assembly is received in and supported by the open upper end of the outer container. The upper buffer assembly defines an upper buffer chamber therein having a bottom wall spaced from the bottom closure of the outer container and thereby together with the outer container sidewalls forming a lower buffer chamber. A removable cooling core is disposed in the lower buffer chamber and has a cooling passage therethrough having open ends in communication with the lower buffer chamber. A plurality of tubes for holding electrophoresis separation gels are provided which extend through the bottom wall of the upper buffer chamber, thereby having one end in communication with each of the upper and lower buffer chambers.

Abstract: An apparatus for drying slab gels having a metal platen with electrical strip heaters mounted on one side thereof and a depression formed in the other side which serves as a drying chamber. The slab gel is laid on a sheet of porous filter paper over which is laid a sheet of non-porous material having non-adhesive qualities relative to the slab gel. The mounted and covered slab gel is placed in the depression and a compliant cover sheet is placed over the top of the depression overlapping the platen around the periphery of the depression. An open passage is formed through one edge of the platen in communication with the depression therein. The strip heaters are connected to an electrical power source and the open passage is connected to a vacuum source. The pressure in the depression is reduced relative to ambient pressure causing the compliant cover to be forced against the platen around the periphery of the depression for sealing the drying chamber.

Abstract: A slicer for tube gels or strips from a slab gel which includes a cutting plate having a plurality of blades in spaced parallel relation extending between the sides of the cutting plate. The spaces between the blades are configured with a cutting edge on one side thereof. The plate is mounted in a holder which is driven by a rotating cam mounted on a drive motor shaft which contacts a cam follower on an arm attached to the cutting plate holder. A pedestal is provided for supporting the gel slab strip or tube gel. The gel is retained laterally on the pedestal by means of retaining vanes on each side of the pedestal. The retaining vanes are urged by springs to extend above the surface of the pedestal. The cutting plate holder is rotatably attached to a framework for mounting the drive motor and the support pedestal so that it may be alternately positioned overlying the pedestal and in a remote position.

Abstract: A gel electrophoresis device in which the separating gel is cast in a vertical position between hydrophilic plates which form a gel slab chamber filled with a separating gel solution from the bottom for reducing fill turbulence allowing formation of a gel slab having a predetermined gradient. A removable seal is applied to the bottom of the gel slab chamber for containing the separating gel solution prior to polymerization. One gel slab chamber may be removably attached to each vertical side of a central temperature control chamber which is completely enclosed and which has an inlet and an outlet channel for circulation of temperature control fluid therethrough. An upper buffer chamber which opens upwardly is formed above the central temperature control chamber in communication with the top of the vertical gel slab chambers.

Abstract: A gel electrophoresis device in which the separating gel is cast in a vertical position between hydrophilic plates which form a gel slab chamber filled with a separating gel solution from the bottom for reducing fill turbulence allowing formation of a gel slab having a predetermined gradient. A removable seal is applied to the bottom of the gel slab chamber for containing the separating gel solution prior to polymerization. One gel slab chamber may be removably attached to each vertical side of a central temperature control chamber which is completely enclosed and which has an inlet and an outlet channel for circulation of temperature control fluid therethrough. An upper buffer chamber which opens upwardly is formed above the central temperature control chamber in communication with the top of the vertical gel slab chambers.

Abstract: A destainer for electrophoresis slab gels. The slab gels are placed in flexible mesh, and rolled into cylindrical shapes and inserted into slab holding tubes. The slab holding tubes are placed in the flow path of a washing liquid which flows past the slab gels and then through a return flow path containing a filter for removing stain particles washed away from the slab gels. A magnetic stirring pump draws fluid through the filter forcing it through the slab holding tubes and into the return flow path thereby forming a continuous flow path for destaining slab gels contained entirely within a cylindrical outside container.