Re: [DIYbio] UV transilluminator alternative?

Yes, different excitation and emission wavelengths - for GelGreen,
both are in the neighbourhood of 500nm (see here:
http://www.biotium.com/product/product_info/flyer/GelRed%20&%20GelGreen%20Flyer.pdf)
- meaning that you can just use blue/cyan light rather than UV light.

The exact wavelength of your LEDs is not that important (anything blue
should be fine), as long as the light intensity is sufficient and you
can somehow sort out the problem of highlights/uneven lighting that is
associated with LEDs. Also remember that you'll need a filter if you
haven't already got one (a piece of transparent orange or yellow
acrylic works, you may need to experiment a bit with different
colours).

Here's a photo of a gel I made with an LED matrix (overkill, but I had
one lying around): http://biotinkering.org/gel.jpeg
I was lighting the gel from the side, with a piece of yellow acrylic
between the gel and the camera. Lighting the gel from the side because
the bands weren't as clearly visible with through-lighting due to
highlights from the LEDs, and when I tried to add a piece of frosted
glass or Satinice acryclic in order to get a more even lighting, the
light intensity turned out too low to let me see any bands.

Also, a sheet of blue EL foil might be an option, though I have yet to
get around to trying whether that works. If it did, it'd give you a
very nice even lighting across the entire gel, though, no highlights
at all.

On Mon, Jul 30, 2012 at 8:38 AM, Meow-Ludo <stuart.mckellar@gmail.com> wrote:
> Any reason for gel green over gelred? Different wavelengths of fluorescence?
>
> That photo came out alright. I can see all the bands.
>
> I have some UV led's but I am not sure what wavelength light they emit. I
> should test them at uni and see if I can see bands in the lab.
>
>
> On Monday, July 30, 2012 2:03:21 PM UTC+10, Avery wrote:
>>
>> I would recommend GelGreen and some blue LEDS.
>>
>> photo here: http://bosslab.org/
>>
>> --A
>>
>> On Sun, Jul 29, 2012 at 10:24 PM, Meow-Ludo <stuart.mckellar@gmail.com>
>> wrote:
>>>
>>> I don't have a UV transilluminator and was wondering if anyone has had
>>> any successful MacGuyver solutions?
>>>
>>> I am using GelRed and need something that will allow it to fluoresce. It
>>> does this at 312nm I believe.
>>>
>>> I have looked at the pearl biotech and iorodeo ones but they are a bit
>>> pricey at this point in time.
>>>
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>>
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