Gel documentation systems, also known as gel docs, gel imaging systems, or gel imagers, are used to record and analyze the results of gel electrophoresis and membrane blotting experiments. These instruments are essential for visualizing stained or labeled nucleic acids and proteins in media such as agarose, acrylamide, or cellulose.
Typically, a gel documentation system consists of an ultraviolet (UV) transmission illuminator, a hood or darkroom to shield the gel from external light sources and protect the user from UV exposure, a computer, software, and a high-performance CCD camera for capturing images. Sample-dense areas are extremely bright, and fluorescence imagers and CCD cameras using full-field illumination require only short exposures, while less dense sample sites require longer exposures. To avoid pixel saturation, the gel documentation system photographs gels using an automatically optimized exposure duration setting. If the gel is overexposed, the exposure time can be manually shortened.
Amerigo Scientific offers economical, easy-to-use, high-performance gel documentation systems to meet the needs of basic transilluminators for quick observations to high-resolution imaging.
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