**1. Introduction**

In molecular biology and biochemistry, the size of biomolecules (molecular weight of protein, length of nucleic acids, and so on) is an important key information in the experiment. One of the popular methods for size fractionation of such molecules is electrophoresis. Agarose is often used as the gel structure for electrophoresis to fractionate nucleic acids. Although polyacrylamide gel is also usable, agarose gel is the most major compound for electrophoresis of nucleic acids, because of its easy handling [1–3]. A fractionation effect depends on the pore size in the gel. Generally, nucleic acids for research have rather large size (around 20 to several thousand base pairs), and the pore size of agarose gel is enough for such large molecule (nucleic acids) to be fractionated. The pore size of 1% agarose gel is estimated to be around 200 nm [4]. Basically, 0.3–2.0% (weight per volume in buffer) of agarose is used in electrophoresis [5].

In this manuscript, several cost-effective ways of agarose gel electrophoresis of DNA are explained. On the other hand, a modification to develop a quality of agarose gel electrophoresis is reported; adding and mixing graphene oxide powder in agarose gel enhances a separation quality of electrophoresis [6]. Furthermore, several modifications of agarose gel electrophoresis by adding a special reagent in the agarose gel are proposed [7, 8]. The principle of these modified electrophoresis methods is basically the same as the traditional method described here, and the costsaving method in this manuscript will also be applicable for such modified methods.

Agarose gel electrophoresis is a very popular experiment for training of students in educational institutions [9–11]. Cost-effective methods described here should be good news for such institutions, because running costs cannot be ignored in student training practices.

for cooking, the quality of which is adequate for agarose gel electrophoresis. In this case, the cost is as much as 1/20. Although there is no warranty or trust for results (i.e. a quality test should be done at each package), it is worth doing in each laboratory to test agars for bacteria and/or for cooking. An example of the result by

*Cost-Effective Technical Tips for Agarose Gel Electrophoresis of Deoxyribonucleic Acid*

Generally, agarose of low purity is more breakable because of its low gel strength. This disadvantage was critical especially when Southern or northern blotting was achieved in the experiment. In recent days, such blotting techniques have given way to the other; for example, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to see DNA polymorphism and real-time PCR to see gene expressions. The major visualizing way of DNA in agarose gel is to use ethidium bromide (EtBr) or the other DNA intercalators that make fluorescence excited in certain wavelength [12]. Several protocols for staining reagent to intercalate DNA are known; (a) add the reagent in

using BA-30 is shown in **Figure 2**, and S7 is shown in **Figure 3**.

*DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.93439*

the gel before solidifying, (b) add the reagent in the loading buffer at

*INA agar BA-30 for agarose gel electrophoresis. 2% weight per volume of agar was applied.*

*Result of the electrophoresis by using INA S-7 agar. The gel is 1% weight per volume.*

**Figure 2.**

**Figure 3.**

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