1. What is the Bioline DNA Concentration Equation?

The Bioline DNA concentration equation estimates double-stranded DNA concentration from absorbance at 260 nm (A260). This standard calculation provides a quick assessment of DNA quantity in solution.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the Bioline DNA concentration equation:

Where:

• \( C \) — DNA concentration (μg/mL)
• \( A260 \) — Absorbance at 260 nm (AU)
• 50 — Conversion factor for dsDNA (μg/mL per AU)

Explanation: The equation assumes that 1 absorbance unit at 260 nm corresponds to 50 μg/mL of double-stranded DNA.

3. Importance of DNA Concentration Measurement

Details: Accurate DNA concentration measurement is crucial for molecular biology applications including PCR, sequencing, and cloning, where precise DNA amounts are required.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the A260 absorbance reading from your spectrophotometer. The value must be greater than 0. For best results, use measurements from a clean, properly blanked spectrophotometer.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Why is 50 used as the conversion factor?
A: This factor is based on the extinction coefficient of double-stranded DNA, where 50 μg/mL gives an A260 of 1 in a 1 cm pathlength cuvette.

Q2: Does this work for single-stranded DNA or RNA?
A: No, different conversion factors apply: ~33 μg/mL for ssDNA and ~40 μg/mL for RNA per A260 unit.

Q3: What affects the accuracy of this measurement?
A: Contaminants like proteins or phenol can affect A260 readings. The 260/280 ratio should be ~1.8 for pure DNA.

Q4: What if my sample is diluted?
A: Multiply the calculated concentration by your dilution factor to get the original concentration.

Q5: Are there more accurate methods?
A: Fluorometric methods using DNA-binding dyes are more specific and sensitive, especially for low-concentration samples.