What is (Gel) Electrophoresis?
Gel electrophoresis is a tried-and-true technique used for the separation of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), ribonucleic acid (RNA) or protein molecules using an electric current applied to a gel matrix. Electrophoresis is usually performed for analytical purposes, but may also be used as a preparative technique prior to sample analysis using other analytical methods such as mass spectrometry, PCR, cloning, DNA sequencing or Southern blotting for further characterization. The term, electrophoresis refers to the movement of particles through a porous matrix by electromotive force (EMF). It works by placing sample molecules in wells in the gel and applying an electric current. The molecules will move through the matrix at different rates and become separated on the basis of their mass and/or charge. There are three major types of electrophoresis: DNA electrophoresis, 1D protein electrophoresis and 2D protein electrophoresis. DNA Electrophoresis DNA electrophoresis is used to separate DNA fr
Gel electrophoresis is a method used in the laboratory to separate molecules (either proteins or nucleic acids) by size or some other physical attribute. The smaller the molecule the faster it is, so in the case of the orchids the electrophoresis was used to determine slow (large) or fast (small) alleles. During electrophoresis the molecules are forced to move through a substance called Agarose Gel by applying electrical current to the gel. This electrical current is attached at both ends of the gel, one end repels the molecules whilst the other ends electrode is simultaneously attracting the molecules. This causes a frictional force in the gel and the gels acts as a sieve. The smaller molecules through faster than the larger ones so you end up with a graded array of molecules, the largest at the top and the smallest at the bottom. Agarose Gel: What is it and how do we prepare it? Agarose is a natural colloid, a chain of sugar molecules extracted from seaweed. This is a picture of the
