A method to prepare an economic substitute for agarose gel along with a low-cost electrolyte for functional DNA gel electrophoresis

الملخص

The use of agarose in Electrophoresis is an indispensable importance in modern research. However, agarose is relatively expensive in addition to not being available in limited-budget scientific institutions and countries. Therefore, the search for more economical and available alternatives has been an urgent need for researchers in developing countries and different educational institutions. This study was conducted on several alternatives to agarose gel with the study focusing on food grade agar-agar to find a suitable alternative to agarose with appropriate treatment with NaCl and NaHCO₃ and NaOH. In addition to the agarose substitute and to make a more approachable method for labs on a tight budget, we used an alternative electrolyte to TBE or TAE, it consisted of NaCl and NaHCO₃ and NaOH and water in a certain percentage to give PH~9. To test the manufactured Gel in this method, DNA samples were loaded, and the GEL result of separation using treated food grade agar-agar was compared to Agarose gel in the same standards, and the results were very similar. This method of electrophoresis is estimated to be cost 15 times less than industrial grade agarose and TBE or TAE.