Ethidium bromide is a fluorescent tag which is widely used in laboratories to label nucleic acids. Chemically, it is an aromatic compound with a core phenanthridine ring. It labels nucleic acids by intercalating between the nucleic acid bases and when exposed to ultraviolet light, it gives a fluorescence which allows the visualization of the nucleic acids. In molecular biology, ethidium bromide is incorporated into agarose gel, thus exposing the nucleic acids to the dye and allowing it to be visualized. It is commonly used for the analysis of PCR and restrictions digestion products. It is also used during caesium chloride gradient centrifugation. Users must exercise caution while handling ethidium bromide as it is a carcinogen and it is essential to wear gloves while handling it. It is also sensitive to light and must hence, be stored in dark bottles, away from light. The Ethidium bromide from Genei must be dissolved in water before use.

Product specifications:

Product name: Ethidium bromide

Brand: Genei

Catalogue number: 2600480101730

Quantity: 10 mg

Molecular weight: 394.3 g/mol

Molecular formula: C21H20N3Br

Storage: Room temperature