We have recently experienced gels where adjacent lanes merge or overlap
into each other. This occurs to varying degrees ranging from a slight
overlap of the lanes to a complete merging where the lanes become
indistinguishable. For 36 lane gels (seen in only a couple of
instances) the degree on merging remains consistent throughout the
entire read length of the gel. In 96 lane gels (seen in about 50% of
cases) the merging is severe at the low molecular weight region of the
gel (0-200 bases) but then the lanes diverge as the run proceeds. This
is definitely not a lane-to-lane leakage issue.
We are using the GeneScan application of the PE Biosystems 377 and are
using Long Ranger Singels acrylamide.
Has anyone else seen this phenomena before or are there any suggestions
/ theories for causes / cures etc.
Peter Johnson
UK Forensic Science Service