Transcript for:
DNA Sample Processing Guidelines

  • [Instructor] Before beginning any protocol, you want to make sure that your workspace has a proper flow to avoid contamination of samples or reagents. This example is set up for a right-handed student. Tips and pipettors are on the left. Racks and samples are in the middle. And the discard bucket is on the right. As your hand moves through the flow, it never unnecessarily crosses over the sample again. This video begins after students have spit into the DNAgenotek collection kits, capped the tubes to release the buffer, and mixed the solution by inversion. At this point, sample tubes should not be labeled to preserve student anonymity during the genotyping process. Using the P1000 micro-pipettor, 500 microliters is transferred from each spit collection tube into a new microcentrifuge tube. When pipetting large volumes, draw up the solution slowly to avoid bubbles or contaminating the micro-pipettor. Once the solution is transferred, close the spit tube lid and cap the sample. Repeat this process for all remaining samples. Prior to beginning this protocol, the heat block should be dialed to 50 degrees and turned on by flipping the switch. If it's heating, the light will glow red. Place samples in the heat block. This incubation must proceed for at least 90 minutes, but it can also be left overnight. Tubes containing 20 microliters of DNAgenotek's proprietary purifying solution. PrepIT will be provided. Once the samples have been incubated, you will transfer the entire volume to a tube containing the purifying solution. You may notice that the solution in the tube becomes cloudy. This is normal. Mix the solution with a vortex. To turn on the vortex, press the switch down to Touch and turn the knob clockwise to ensure maximum speed. Hold one tube at a time and press the top of the black pad to initiate vibration. Repeat this process for all remaining samples. Embed all samples in ice for 10 minutes. Impurities in the solution will be removed by centrifugation. After flipping the switch in the back of the microcentrifuge press the Open button. Remove the metal lid inside by pulling on the knob. Make sure that the tubes are labeled either with letters or numbers before loading them into the centrifuge. Load samples with hinges facing outward. And balance the tubes across the rotor by ensuring that all tubes have equal volumes. Replace the metal lid and press it until it clicks securely on to the rotor. Close the lid to the microcentrifuge gently. Change the centrifugation time by pressing the arrows to the desired time. In this case, five minutes. Press the arrows by the speed to navigate to the proper RPM. In this case, 14.5 thousand RPM is the max the centrifuge can perform and is close enough to our desired speed. Press the Start button. The centrifuge will begin to spin. It is suggested that you watch the centrifuge until it reaches maximum speed to ensure that there are no violent vibrations, which may mean that the tubes are unbalanced or the internal lid has come loose. If this occurs, press the Stop button immediately. As the spin is going, obtain four new tubes and label them. When the spin complete, the lid to the centrifuge will pop open. Remove the internal lid and remove the samples gently to avoid disturbing the pellet. Place tubes of the same sample in line with each other to ease the transfer of the solution. After centrifugation, you should be able to see a white pellet that has collected on the bottom part of the tube on the side of the hinge. This pellet contains the impurities in the solution. The DNA is in the supernatant. Using the P1000, transfer 400 microliters of supernatant, which contains the DNA, to the new tube. Place the tip on the opposite side of the tube from the pellet and draw up slowly to avoid disturbing it. Repeat this process for the remaining samples.