Biotel technician

[p.thorpe]

Hello,
I'm setting up a basic molecular biology lab. Where do people stand on the ethidium bromide Vs alternative (safer) debate? Any advice? All comments are helpful. Thank you very much.

Peter Thorpe

[danfive]

Handling ethidium bromide is very safe. It doesn't take but a very few precautions.

[p.thorpe]

Thanks Danfive. I'm trying to decide whcich route to take as ethidium bromide is the cheapest, but as I understand it a fairly dangerous mutagen. So you recomend the use of ethidium bromide, as long a the correct safety procedures are in place?

[danfive]

Originally Posted by p.thorpe

Thanks Danfive. I'm trying to decide whcich route to take as ethidium bromide is the cheapest, but as I understand it a fairly dangerous mutagen. So you recomend the use of ethidium bromide, as long a the correct safety procedures are in place?

Absolutely. I've been around many older DNA biologists that laugh at the concerns over EtBr. All you have to do is keep it off your skin (and work surfaces), like so many things in the lab.