Process and apparatus for purifying and concentrating DNA from crude mixtures containing DNA
First Claim
1. Apparatus for purifying and concentrating DNA from a crude mixture containing the DNA comprising:
- a container providing a reservoir of electrophoresis buffer solution;
a gel matrix immersed in said electrophoresis buffer solution;
a collection chamber in said container;
means for applying an electric field to said gel matrix;
means for disposing said crude mixture in contact with the gel matrix such that the crude mixture is drawn into the gel matrix, responsive to said electric field;
means for selectively removing, due to their relatively low molecular weight, all the constituent molecules of the crude mixture, except for the DNA, from said gel matrix responsive to said electric field, including means for sweeping away said constituent molecules by flow of said electrophoresis buffer solution between the bottom of the gel matrix and the collection chamber; and
means for removing from the gel matrix, responsive to said electric field, the DNA still remaining therein such that the DNA is collected in said collection chamber, including means operative when removing the DNA for preventing said flow of said electrophoresis buffer solution, thereby to avoid sweeping away the DNA.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A process and apparatus for purifying and concentrating DNA, which has relatively high molecular weight, from a crude mixture containing DNA for example from human whole blood samples; the collected DNA is of usable volume and concentration, and is of such purity as to permit conventional restriction by a number of enzymes without the need for further purification. The apparatus consists essentially of an agarose gel disc, typically 5 mm. thick by 31 mm. in diameter, immersed in an electrophoresis buffer solution and supported between two 8 micrometer polycarbonate filters in an electric field. Further, the method involves the loading of a suitably treated sample such as blood lysate onto the top face of the agarose gel disc and then applying an electric field. On the constituent parts of the treated blood, the DNA molecules are the largest with regard to molecular weight. Consequently, their passage through the agarose gel disc, under the force of the electric field, is impeded. All other constituent parts of the treated blood pass relatively rapidly through the disc and are removed, being swept away by flow of the buffer solution. The DNA is then eluted and collected, in concentrated form by application of the electric field, whilst the normal flow of buffer solution between the bottom of the gel matrix and a collection chamber is prevented.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. Apparatus for purifying and concentrating DNA from a crude mixture containing the DNA comprising:
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a container providing a reservoir of electrophoresis buffer solution; a gel matrix immersed in said electrophoresis buffer solution; a collection chamber in said container; means for applying an electric field to said gel matrix; means for disposing said crude mixture in contact with the gel matrix such that the crude mixture is drawn into the gel matrix, responsive to said electric field; means for selectively removing, due to their relatively low molecular weight, all the constituent molecules of the crude mixture, except for the DNA, from said gel matrix responsive to said electric field, including means for sweeping away said constituent molecules by flow of said electrophoresis buffer solution between the bottom of the gel matrix and the collection chamber; and means for removing from the gel matrix, responsive to said electric field, the DNA still remaining therein such that the DNA is collected in said collection chamber, including means operative when removing the DNA for preventing said flow of said electrophoresis buffer solution, thereby to avoid sweeping away the DNA. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification