In the past, genotyping efforts relied primarily on radioisotope labelling of PCR products. However, the use of radioactivity has a number of disadvantages, including cost, danger, and the time consuming nature of development. For these reasons, we began using silver staining for detection of polymorphisms and SSCP analysis. The cost is 10-fold less than using radioisotopes. However, the development process is labor intensive. With this in mind, we developed a microchip-driven apparatus (US patent #5458749) which automatically develops 1-2 gels using silver staining, saving hours of hands-on time.
An automated device for staining DNA gels developed in the MOL. This device decreases the total cost of genetic typing by 95%.
