the fige mapper electrophoresis system uses fige （field inversion gel electrophoresis） technology to provide the highest resolution separation of all electrophoretic techniques for dna molecules ranging from 100 to 200,000 base pairs. the relative mobility of dna molecules in an electric field is inversely proportional to size. however, when the dna molecules exceed 20 kb in size, this relationship becomes independent, resulting in comigration of all dna molecules in the sample. classical fige （or polarity reversal） uses an asymmetric switch-time format to obtain a net downward migration of the dna through the gel, with the duration of the forward switch time typically three times that of the reverse switch time. the fige mapper system accommodates both symmetric switch-time and asymmetric voltage formats （afige, where the forward voltage gradient is greater than the reverse）, and can generate a nonlinear shaped switch-time ramp to enhance the separation of dna molecules.

automation

no previous experience in field inversion electrophoresis is required, since the fige mapper system contains ten stored programs optimized for dna separations in the 100 bp to 150 kb range.

customization

the fige mapper system allows storage of up to ten user-specified protocols, in addition to the ten supplied with the system. also, run conditions can be programmed manually.

application versatility

the fige mapper system gives optimal resolution between 100 bp and 200 kb. this size range is useful for separations associated with cloning procedures, southern analysis, and dna fingerprinting for forensic analysis. the afige capability yields optimal separations of the cloned in-serts from m13, lambda, cosmid, and p1 phage vectors, and genomic dna for southern hybridization analysis or dna fingerprinting for forensic analysis.