The gel documentation system consists primarily of a camera and analysis software. The gel is placed in a translucent tray, where it is subjected to ultraviolet or white light to make the electrophoresis product visible. The camera then captures images of the gel and, by applying the software, the bands present can be analyzed to determine the sizes of the molecules, quantify and document the results.
In addition, the gel documentation system provides a reliable way to store and share data with other researchers. The data and images obtained from the gel are of high quality and can be stored digitally, allowing for collaborative access and analysis.