PCR-One sample works the other does not? - (Nov/06/2004 )

Hey, I am new, but I hope somebody can help...

I am trying to run a PCR on gill samples since 6 months. I finally got it to wotk after changing annealing temperature, Taq and dNTPs.
Now I have 9 god-looking genomic DNA samples, which all have around the same concentrations and look nice on the gel, but only one works!!!!!!!
What am I doing wrong? I retried using the same samples again with different amounts of DNA, but nothing works! It just does not seem normal!

If anybody could help, that would be awsome!!!!!

Thanks

Myriam

hi

ur PCR seems alright. even i faced the same problem sometime back with reference to someother samples of plant DNA. what you can do is try changing the concentration of Magnesium in the buffer. u can prepare a cocktail of different concentrations of the buffer and then try the reaction. may be it will work. i did like that and it worked for me.
regards
madhan shankar
Head
Dept of Biotechnology
DR NGP College
Coimbator35
India

Hi

What are your 260/280 absorbance ratios like from when you quantitated the DNA, if they are close to 1.8 then your DNA is pure, but if lower than about 1.7 or higher than about 2.0, then you have contaminants in the extraction, these could be inhibiting your PCR. Solution: try re-extracting the DNA on fresh samples or try cleaning up your already extracted DNA, there are a range of kits to do this.

Hope that helps

Hi veteran

The ratio is fine, it si aroun 1.7 to 1.8. Not the best, but it should work, right?

I will try changing the Mg conc., and will see what happens.

Thanks

Myriam