Direct calculation of the sizes of DNA fragments separated by gel electrophoresis using programmes written for a pocket calculator.

In order to facilitate the direct computation of the sizes of DNA fragments separated by gel electrophoresis, we have written and evaluated programmes for the Hewlett-Packard 41C programmable calculator. The sizes estimated for DNA fragments of known length using some of these programmes were found to be more accurate than the estimates obtained by conventional graphical procedures. These programmes should be adaptable to other programmable calculators.