DNA Stain

There are several different stains that can be used to visualize and photograph DNA after separation by gel electrophoresis. Molecules of the dye adhere to DNA strands and fluoresce under UV light, showing where the bands are within the gel.

Hoechst stains are part of a family of blue fluorescent dyes used to stain DNA.There are three related Hoechst stains: Hoechst 33258, Hoechst 33342, and Hoechst 34580. The dyes Hoechst 33258 and Hoechst 33342 are the ones most commonly used and they have similar excitation/emission spectra.