Abstract: A novel combination vertical gel electrophoresis cell and destainer unit is provided. The cell or destainer comprises two chambers, a first or upper buffer chamber and a second or lower buffer chamber. The upper buffer chamber is a beaker-like container with cooling means, such as a double-wall beaker with an inlet and an outlet for the circulation of a coolant. The lower buffer chamber is a specially designed flask with a shoulder, on which are holes with rubber gaskets for holding the lower ends of gel tubes. The unit further includes a removable electrode for the lower buffer chamber with sufficient water displacement volume to provide hydrostatic equilibrium at the upper and lower ends of the gel tubes. Further, special destaining tubes are provided to convert the electrophoresis cell to a destainer.