IMPROVED REAL-TIME SCANNING FLUORESCENCE ELECTROPHORESIS APPARATUS FOR THE ANALYSIS OF POLYNUCLEOTIDE FRAGMENTS

摘要

This invention relates to an improved real-time scanning fluorescence electrophoresis apparatus for the electrophoretic analysis of fluorescently-labeled polynucleotide fragments. The apparatus is characterized by having an electrophoresis chamber containing an electrophoretic separation medium capable of accommodating multiple electrophoresis lanes arranged in a planar array. a fluorescence detector mounted on a translatable stage, a light source for exciting fluorescent molecules, and a computer for collecting data consisting of time, location, fluorescence wavelength and fluorescent intensity information. The improvements herein disclosed include (i) using a spectral-array detector for detecting the emission light from said fluorescently-labeled polynucleotide fragments including the simultaneous detection of multiple fluorescent labels, and (ii) a temperature control means to control the temperature of the electrophoretic separation medium during electrophoresis.