InGenius Darkroom Cabinet

Contents

1. Overview
2. Operation
   • 2.1 Agarose gels
   • 2.2 Protein gels
3. UV illuminator
4. Maintenance

1. Overview

The InGenius Darkroom Cabinet is used for gel imaging. We are able to view ethidium bromide stained agarose gels using the UV light or protein gels using a white light screen that fits neatly onto the image screen. For storage of our gels, you may capture a picture using the Sysgene software and print on the Mitubishi printer. The printing paper is expensive so please make all adjustments to your gel before printing.

2. Operation

2.1 Agarose gels

1. The agarose gel can stay in the casting stand while imaging.
2. Place 1 mL of water on the image screen and place the casting stand with gel on top of water spot. Make sure it is not too wet or the gel will move while imaging.
3. Click on Sysgene Darkroom Cabinet.
4. Click Manual capture.
5. Close the door to the Darkroom cabinet and switch on the UV light.
6. Adjust the gel to where it is in view and optimize setting for a publication quality picture.
7. Capture and save to your folder. Do not place them in my folder. That would be terrible.
8. You can print the picture of the gel for your records.
9. CLEAN UP. Throw away your gel in the proper waste and wipe off the image screen with water and a kimwipe.

2.2 Protein gels

1. Place the white screen on the image screen.
2. Place 1 mL of water on the image screen and place the gel on top of water spot. Make sure it is not too wet or the gel will move while imaging.
3. Click on Sysgene Darkroom Cabinet.
4. Click Manual capture.
5. Close the door to the Darkroom cabinet and switch on the UV light. The UV light is converted to white light with the white screen.
6. Adjust the gel to where it is in view and optimize setting for a publication quality picture.
7. Capture and save to your folder. Do not place them in my folder. That would be terrible.
8. You can print the picture of the gel for your records.
9. CLEAN UP. Throw your gel away and wipe of the screen with a kimwipe!

3. UV illuminator

We have also got this snazzy little thing. You can use it to safely cut out a band of DNA. The gel has to be stained with a dye similar to Invitrogen SybrSafe. Ethidium Bromide will not fluoresce under a blue light. The blue light does not have any harmful UV light and will not cause photodamage in the DNA you are purifying. This helps to improve your cloning efficiency.

4. Maintenance

• Larry Ocanas, BioMedical Solutions (BSI) (not confirmed since the old wiki; check with the lab manager)
• Manual
• Warranty Card