Forensic Science: DNA Identification Lab- Making a Gel Electrophoresis Chamber

We recently found Romeo, Juliet, and Paris dead in a graveyard, and we have the DNA of the killer. When the police need to figure out if a suspect's DNA matches the DNA that was found at a crime scene they use a device called a Gel Electrophoresis Chamber (GEC). This device utilizes the fact that DNA is negatively charged, and DNA, in the presence of an electrical current, will move towards the positively charged electrode. In such a chamber 2 electrodes are submerged in either end of an agarose block and samples are placed in different channels in the agarose, and the entire thing is submerged in a buffer agent. When a current is run through the electrode the DNA samples will move through the agarose with varying speeds depending on the size of the pieces of DNA. A pattern unique to a single person will form after the current is stopped, and it can be matched to the pattern that is produced.

We completed the following.

1. Cut two pieces of steel wire 8 inches long, and bend the end of the wires into a hook that clips on the side of your small box.
2. Cut out a piece of styrofoam board with a width 2 inches larger than your chamber and a length that allows the bottom of the cut out to be  2mm away from the bottom of your small box.
3. cut a T shape out of the styrofoam by making the middle piece 8 inches long and the part that sticks out on the top 1/2 an inch long on both sides
4. make prongs where you DNA will be put. Make a prong per strand of DNA you have
5. make the buffer solution that you will use for both making the agarose gel and running the samples. The buffer should be a 1% solution of baking soda.
6. 500 mL of bottled water in one of your bowls and stir well with 5 grams
7. Make a 1% agarose gel solution by combining 5 g of agar powder with 500 mL of your buffer solution in a microwave-safe bowl.
8. Heat the agar solution in a microwave to dissolve the powder. Stop the microwave every 10-15 seconds to stir the solution.
9. When you see that the solution is starting to bubble,
10. remove it from the microwave. The solution should be translucent. Make sure to watch the agar solution carefully and remove it promptly from the microwave; when it gets hot it will easily bubble over.
11. Remove the stainless steel wire electrodes from the gel chamber.
12. Insert the Styrofoam comb into either end of the gel chamber, leaving approximately 0.5 centimeters (cm) between the end of the box and the comb. Gently pour the agar solution into the gel chamber. Add just enough solution to the box so that the comb teeth are submerged approximately 0.5 cm.
13. Wait until the gel solidifies, which may take at least 30 minutes at room temperature.
14. Let this box set in the fridge and store until you are ready to use it

The finished product of this step.