Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 2, 2026

Extraction of High Molecular Weight DNA from Microbial Mats
Published on: July 7, 2011
Isolation of High Molecular Weight DNA from Insects
Susan J Brown1, Michelle Coleman2
1Division of Biology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, USA. sjbrown@ksu.edu.
Abstract:
Isolation of high molecular weight (HMW) DNA from any organism can be daunting and populations of extremely small insects with hard exoskeletons are no exception. It can be challenging to isolate DNA that is clean enough to enzymatically label, digest or otherwise manipulate without sacrificing length. The method described here was originally developed to isolate HMW DNA for BAC library construction. More recently, it has proven reliable for long range optical mapping as well.
Related Concept Videos
Polymers: Defining Molecular Weight
The number average molecular weight (Mn) is the summation of the number...
Polymers: Molecular Weight Distribution
Molecular Weight of Step-Growth Polymers
As the step-growth polymerization involves step-wise condensation of monomers, the molecular weight also builds up eventually. Consequently, high molecular weight polymers are obtained at the late stages of the polymerization, where 99% of monomers have been consumed.
The extent of the...
Anticoagulant Drugs: Low-Molecular-Weight Heparins
Osmoregulation in Insects
DNA Isolation

