Final answer:
Loading buffer for submarine gels generally contains Tris base, EDTA, glycerol, and a tracking dye such as bromophenol blue or xylene cyanol to facilitate DNA loading, protection, and visualization during gel electrophoresis.
Step-by-step explanation:
The general components of a loading buffer used for introducing DNA samples to submarine gels typically include Tris base, EDTA, glycerol, and a tracking dye like bromophenol blue, xylene cyanol, or orange G. The presence of glycerol increases the density of the sample, allowing it to sink into the wells of the gel. Tris base helps to maintain a stable pH, while EDTA acts as a chelating agent to protect the DNA from degradation by nucleases. The tracking dye provides a visual indication of how far the DNA has traveled through the gel during electrophoresis.