Fluorescent tag
Encyclopedia
In molecular biology
and biotechnology
, a fluorescent tag is a part of a molecule
that researchers have attached chemically to aid in detection of the molecule to which it has been attached. The tag is some kind of fluorescent molecule (also known as fluorophore
). Ethidium bromide
, Fluorescein
and Green fluorescent protein
are common tags.
Molecular biology
Molecular biology is the branch of biology that deals with the molecular basis of biological activity. This field overlaps with other areas of biology and chemistry, particularly genetics and biochemistry...
and biotechnology
Biotechnology
Biotechnology is a field of applied biology that involves the use of living organisms and bioprocesses in engineering, technology, medicine and other fields requiring bioproducts. Biotechnology also utilizes these products for manufacturing purpose...
, a fluorescent tag is a part of a molecule
Molecule
A molecule is an electrically neutral group of at least two atoms held together by covalent chemical bonds. Molecules are distinguished from ions by their electrical charge...
that researchers have attached chemically to aid in detection of the molecule to which it has been attached. The tag is some kind of fluorescent molecule (also known as fluorophore
Fluorophore
A fluorophore, in analogy to a chromophore, is a component of a molecule which causes a molecule to be fluorescent. It is a functional group in a molecule which will absorb energy of a specific wavelength and re-emit energy at a different wavelength...
). Ethidium bromide
Ethidium bromide
Ethidium bromide is an intercalating agent commonly used as a fluorescent tag in molecular biology laboratories for techniques such as agarose gel electrophoresis. It is commonly abbreviated as "EtBr", which is also an abbreviation for bromoethane...
, Fluorescein
Fluorescein
Fluorescein is a synthetic organic compound available as a dark orange/red powder soluble in water and alcohol. It is widely used as a fluorescent tracer for many applications....
and Green fluorescent protein
Green fluorescent protein
The green fluorescent protein is a protein composed of 238 amino acid residues that exhibits bright green fluorescence when exposed to blue light. Although many other marine organisms have similar green fluorescent proteins, GFP traditionally refers to the protein first isolated from the...
are common tags.
See also
- Molecular tagging velocimetryMolecular tagging velocimetryMolecular Tagging Velocimetry is a specific form of flow velocimetry, a technique for determining the velocity of currents in fluids such as air and water. In its simplest form, a single "write" laser beam is shot once through the sample space...
- Spectrophotometer for Nucleic Acid MeasurementsSpectrophotometer for Nucleic Acid MeasurementsA Spectrophotometer for Nucleic Acid Measurement is used inmolecular biology. Analysis of nucleic acids is commonly performed to determine the average concentrations of DNA or RNA present in a mixture, as well as their purity. To date, there are two main approaches used by scientists to...