How can I quantitate DNA on an agarose gel?
For fragments between 100 bp and 2,000 bp, use the Low DNA Mass Ladder. 4 µL of the Low DNA Mass Ladder corresponds to 10, 20, 40, 80, 120, and 200 ng respectively of fragments, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1,200 and 2,000 bp.
For fragments between 1,000 bp and 10,000 bp use the High DNA Mass Ladder. 4 µL of the High DNA Mass Ladder corresponds to 20, 40, 60, 80, 120, 200 ng respectively of fragments 1,000, 2,000, 3,000, 4,000, 6,000, and 10,000 bp.
To calculate the amount of DNA in 1 µg of the Lambda/Hind III standard:
(size of band in bp/48503 bp) X 1 µg = µg of DNA in band A
For example, to calculate the amount of DNA in the 564 bp band of the Lambda/Hind III standard:
(564/48,503) X 1 µg = 0.011 µg or 11 ng of DNA in the 564 bp band.