Made in Ghana Agarose for gel electrophoresis of DNA

Abstract

The study explored the potential of local Ghanaian seaweeds in producing agarose, a substitute for imported agarose, for gel electrophoresis in DNA fragment separation. Seaweeds like Gracilaria cervicornis and Hydropuntia dentata, collected from Kpone and Labadi, were processed to extract agarose using methods like polyethylene glycol, diethylaminoethyl cellulose, and dimethyl sulfoxide. These red algae showed high agar content, with Gracilaria cervicornis yielding more agarose with better gel strength and temperature properties than Hydropuntia dentata. No agar was obtained from Ulva fasciata and Caulerpa taxifolia. The study demonstrated the effectiveness of locally produced agarose in deoxyribonucleic acid separation, suggesting potential for commercial production of 'Ghanaian agarose' for molecular work.