forensicGEM Sperm is a specialized enzymatic kit designed for the rapid, single-tube extraction of high-quality DNA from sperm cells, semen samples, and vaginal swabs
Sperm cells are a difficult type of cell to lyse, often requiring qPCR and STR-inhibiting chemicals such as SDS, mercaptoethanol and DTT, to lyse sperm cells.
These chemicals are toxic to downstream processes and must be removed via purification steps. These steps are time-consuming and result in a loss of DNA. It is not possible to work with very small numbers of cells since DNA is lost at every step.
The forensicGEM™ Sperm kit uses a unique mixture of thermophilic and mesophilic enzymes with no purification steps required. At low temperatures, mesophilic cell wall degrading enzymes rapidly degrade sperm heads.
The 75° step then activates a thermophilic proteinase that lyses the cells, kills nucleases and strips the DNA of nucleosomes.
A final 95° step deactivates the thermophilic proteinase, producing single-stranded DNA perfect for qPCR and STR amplification.
- Simplified, hands-off workflow provides STR, PCR, and qPCR-ready DNA in 11 minutes
- Sperm can be extracted in very small volumes and with very few sperm present because there is no loss of DNA to purification steps
- Reduced handling protects the integrity of the sample
- Single-tube processing is compatible with your existing thermal cyclers, making it easy to automate for quick DNA extractions
Click on the icon below to view a quick start guide for using the ForensicGEM Sperm nucleic acid extraction kit
