DNA purification is a step in the sample preparation workflow. It removes salts and enzymes from the lysed samples, or PCR products, prior to sequencing and cloning. It also eliminates unwanted PCR artifacts, such as primer dimers or unincorporated nucleotides. DNA purification in molecular biology research is an essential step that requires careful planning for reliable, high-quality results.

There are a variety of approaches to eliminating DNA. The standard DNA isolation techniques contain a number of steps, including leukocyte separation or red blood cell lysis to eliminate heme protein inhibitors of the PCR reaction. They also include deproteinization, RNAse treatment, precipitation of isopropanol and alcohol, and then finally, DNA elimination. These procedures require special equipment, for example, an electrophoresis system and biosafety cabinets, due to the intercalating dyes used in gel electrophoresis.

Other methods for DNA purification employ spin columns or filters with 96 wells to filter particles that are contaminated by adhering to the surface. These techniques can be very time-consuming particularly if you have a large number of samples or if the columns have to be manually refilled.

Dipsticks reduce the number sample processing steps from six to three. They bind nucleic acid using a cellulose-based, waxy material and then release them in the presence of water. This method is particularly effective in low-resource settings like remote field sites or teaching laboratories. Its simplicity (30 s per sample) is a great fit for diagnostic molecular tests such as disease detection and genotype screening.

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