Fun with magnetic beads

Laboratory scientists have a number of cool tools (toys!) they can use in the lab. One such tool is superparamagnetic bead technology. This is essentially a means of separating out something that you want, from a load of things that you don't.

So for example, you might want to pull a particular protein out of a load of biological gunk containing thousands of other proteins. You add your magnetic beads, which have been coated in a chemical that binds your protein, and only your protein. You give it a little time to meet its friends, then you sit it in front of a magnet. You beads, and ergo your protein of interest, are dragged out of solution, allowing you to remove the trash you don't want.

Simple. Easy. Effective. Cool.

This video is copyright (2009) and is released under a Creative Commons license. You are free to use the material, but you must attribute it to me, Dr Jim, at www.mentalindigestion.net.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• Magnetic
• beads
• protein
• purification
• pull
• down

[19Tranc3r92]

Cool vid Dr! Makes me feel sooo small.