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GEL ELECTROPHORESIS VIRTUAL LAB
ELECTROPHORESIS CHAMBER: MATERIALS AND TOOLS LIST


ELECTROPHORESIS CHAMBER: MATERIALS AND TOOLS LIST


Materials needed for each box
  • Plexiglas®
    • 2 pieces: 7-1/2" by 2-1/2" by 1/4" thick - for Chamber Long Sides
    • 2 pieces: 3-7/8" by 2-1/2" by 1/4" thick - for Chamber Short Sides
    • 2 pieces: 7-1/2" by 5" by 1/4" thick - for Chamber Lid and Chamber Bottom
    • 1 piece: 7-1/2" by 1-1/4" by 1/4" thick - for Chamber Lid Front
    • 1 piece: 3-3/4" by 3-3/4" by 3/4" thick - for Gel Carrier Base
    • 2 pieces: 3-3/4" by 1/2" by 1/2" thick - for Gel Carrier Sides
    • 6 pieces: 1/2" long pieces of 3/8" dowel or square rod -- for pegs
  • Teflon® - 3-5/8" by 1" by 1/16" thick - for Gel Comb
  • Monel Seizing Wire or 20-gauge copper wire - 16" long piece cut in 1/2 -- for Electrodes
  • Test Lead Wire - 2 feet each of black and red - wire must be insulated and rated to at least 200 Volts (black = 02F3961, red = 02F3967)
  • 2 Insulated Banana Jacks to fit 5/16" holes (one red, one black) (black = 39F1575, red = 39F1574)
  • 2 Solderless Banana Plugs to fit 9/64" holes; with thin metal loop (89F361)
  • 2 nuts to fit Solderless Banana Plugs (6-32 hex nuts)
  • 2 Stackable Banana Plugs (one red, one black) (black = 30F1400, red = 44F6611)
  • 2 pieces of 1/4" diameter heat shrinking tubing cut into 1" pieces (one red, one black) (black = 37F6991, red = 97F8911)
  • Electrical tape - 5-1/2" long piece (optional)
General Tools and Supplies Needed
  • Weld-On 3®, Plastruct Plastic Weld®, or Methylene chloride - acrylic bonding agent for Plexiglas
  • Monoject¨ plastic syringe with curved tip, a 5cc syringe with a 21 gauge needle, or a glass Pasteur pipette and bulb - to apply acrylic bonding agent
  • Drill bits
    • 9/64" - for drilling guide holes
    • 5/16" - for drilling holes for banana jacks
  • Electric drill or drill press
  • X-acto® knife and pointed blade - to cut Teflon® comb
  • Hammer
  • Large nail
  • C-clamp
  • Needle-nose pliers
  • Small adjustable wrench
  • Wire cutters
  • Wire strippers
  • 1/8" wide flat head screw driver - to unscrew Solderless Stackable Banana Plugs
  • 150 grit sandpaper - small piece
  • Safety glasses
  • Permanent marking pen, such as Sharpie®
  • Ruler
  • Forceps/tweezers
  • Electric hair dryer (blowdrier) or alcohol lamp and matches
  • Motor oil - to lubricate drill bits
  • Small brush and container for motor oil
  • Masking tape or similar tape
  • Glass beaker (100-150 ml)
  • Very large rubber bands
  • Scrap lumber to drill on
  • Hack saw (optional) - use for cutting slots in gel carrier sides if needed
Suppliers

Plexiglas®, Teflon® and acrylic bonding agent
To find a supplier, look in the Yellow Pages of your local telephone directory under the heading "Plastics - Rods, Tubes, Sheets, Etc.". Have them cut the pieces of Plexiglas and Teflon to size for you. Also try to have them cut the slots in the Gel Carrier Sides (see step 2 under "Construct the Gel Carrier".)

Electrical supplies
These can be purchased at hardware stores, electronics stores such as Radio Shack or ordered from an electronics supplier. Part numbers in parentheses in the Materials list are for Newark Electronics, 801-261-5660.

Monel seizing wire
This wire can be purchased at a sailing-supply store or West Marine, phone 1-800-BOATING.

Power supply
You will need a power supply to run your electrophoresis chamber. An inexpensive power supply is sold by Life Technologies (phone 1-800-828-6686). The Model 101 Wall Plug-in Electrophoresis Power Supply, catalog # 31061-120 ($49 each, 10% discount on 10 or more) has a choice of two voltages - 50 and 100 volts.