Ethidium bromide is widely used in molecular biology for visualizing nucleic acids. It is commonly applied in agarose gel electrophoresis to stain DNA and RNA, allowing researchers to observe and analyze the size and quantity of nucleic acid fragments under UV light. The compound intercalates between the base pairs of DNA, emitting a fluorescent signal when exposed to UV light, which makes it a valuable tool for detecting and quantifying DNA in various laboratory procedures. Additionally, ethidium bromide is utilized in techniques such as Southern blotting and CsCl gradient centrifugation for nucleic acid analysis. Due to its mutagenic properties, strict safety protocols are followed when handling this chemical.