What are the advantages and disadvantages of capillary sequencing?
For the MegaBACE (Molecular Dynamics) machine major advantages include easy sample loading (all 96 wells are loaded simultaneously) and a quick run time (<3 hours for 600+ read length). With bar coding, loading and sample tracking problems are minimized as no sample is handled individually. Disadvantages of capillary sequencing include the increased expense of the machine compared to gel-based sequencing, although this difference is not important if you plan to perform lots of sequencing. We encounter day-to-day problems with sample purity and concentration: too little DNA, too much template DNA, excess salt and dust can all cause failure or result in short sequences of low quality. Some problems can be overcome by performing a "mock loading" or even several mock loadings, before starting the actual sequencing run. Presumably the mock loading procedure removes some of the junk in samples. Constant Improvement is our Motto. We are always working on protocol improvements to provide sampl
