Accurate and quick determination of DNA concentration is critical for the assembly of synthetic constructs, as well as a multitude of other experiments. We sought to optimize an under-utilized and inexpensive approach for determining DNA concentration: a spotting technique that uses the intercalating dye Ethidium Bromide. This technique does not require specialized equipment such as a spectrophotometer, but instead relies on visualization of dye-DNA complex fluorescence when excited by UV light. We modelled and tested a range of parameters for dye concentration and spot size, finding that 15uL spots with 1.0ug/mL Ethidium Bromide produced the most reliable standard curve. More importantly, we hope that our approach can help other labs optimize this protocol for their own experimental setup. Adoption of this technique may help enable development of iGEM teams in resource limited environments and laboratories which do not or cannot employ a satisfactory method for determining DNA concentration.</p>
<h2 class="low-rise-padding">Kill Switch for Engineered Bacteria</h2>
<h2 class="low-rise-padding">Kill Switch for Engineered Bacteria</h2>
