- Course Introduction
- 01: Evidence & DNA
- 02: Forensic Biology
- 03: DNA Extraction & Quantitation
- 04: DNA Amplification
- 05: Amplified DNA Product Separation
- 06: STR Data Analysis & Interpretation
- 07: Population Genetics & Statistics
- 08: Communicating Results
- 09: Other DNA Markers & Technologies
- Course Resources
- Laboratory Training Manual
President's DNA Initiative
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Advancing Justice Through DNA Technology
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Advancing Justice Through DNA Technology
DNA Analyst Training
Temperature Control
Home > Amplified DNA Product Separation > Capillary Electrophoresis > Principles > Temperature Control
To minimize the formation of DNA secondary structures or intrastrand hybrid structures that impact DNA separation, electrophoretic separation of short tandem repeat (STR) fragments is performed at a temperature of 60°C (Butler 2004). The ABI Prism® CE instruments have a heated plate to maintain the temperature of the capillary. On ABI Prism® 310 Genetic Analyzers, the capillary at the inlet and outlet ends are not directly in contact with the heat plate. It is important to maintain room temperature within a few degrees, because fluctuations in room temperature can cause variability in the runs. The newer CE instruments have improved temperature control preventing room temperature fluctuation being a significant issue.
