It's For Real, We Have Quality Stippled Studfish DNA

I was able to test the concentration and general quality of our stippled studfish DNA yesterday with Andrew. We were able to use the NanoDrop spectrophotometer in the Podila lab, which can assay 1.2 microliters of your product and give you a computer screen of information. Our four extractions from stippled studfish (Fundulus bifax) from Cornhouse Creek in Randolph County, AL, varied in concentration from 103 - 220 nanograms/microliter of DNA, with the 260/280 nm wavelength ratios indicating DNA/protein ratios varying between 1.83 - 2.2. The higher end of the ratios may reflect light phenol contamination since phenol absorbs well at a wavelength of 260 nm, but probably nothing to worry about for PCR purposes. We also had similar good results with our initial test extraction done on a F. similis from Dauphin Island, AL. So we're in business.

Hopefully we'll get out tomorrow to collect more scarlet shiners at Limestone Creek as part of our monthly assessments of growth. The weather will be in the mid 50's F, with some chance of rain.