# Nucleic Acid Quantification
DNA can be **quantified** to determine the success of purification techniques. It is most frequently analyzed through *spectrophotometry*:
*DNA* absorbs light at a wavelength of *260 nm*
*Proteins* absorb light at a wavelength of *280 nm*
Generally, an A260 0f 1.0 indicates:
- 50 μg/ml of dsDNA
- 35 µg/ml of ssDNA
An A260/A280 ratio greater than 1.5 is considered a pure sample.
Other *organic contaminants* generally absorb light at a wavelength of *230 nm*
Other methods of quantifying RNA include:
- [[Gel Electrophoresis]]
- [[Southern Blot]]
### Sample Normalization
## RNA Quantification
> See also: [[Spectrophotometry and Colorimetry]]
**RNA quantification** is nearly identical to [[Nucleic Acid Quantification]] and can also be performed using a *spectrophotometer* or *NanoDrop*.
*RNA* absorbs light at a wavelength of *260 nm*
*Proteins* absorb light at a wavelength of *280 nm*
Generally, an A260 0f 1.0 indicates ~40 μg/ml of RNA
An *A260/A280* ratio *>1.8* is considered a *pure* sample.
- Differs from DNA quantification where >1.5 was pure
Other methods of quantifying RNA include:
- [[Gel Electrophoresis]]
- [[Northern Blot]]
- RT-qPCR
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[Comparison of DNA Quantification Methods for Next Generation Sequencing](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4822169/)
- Qubit