Gel Electrophoresis
Gel electrophoresis is a widely used technique for separating electrically charged molecules. It is a central technique in molecular biology and genetics laboratories, because it lets researchers separate and purify the nucleic acids DNA and RNA and proteins, so they can be studied individually. Gel electrophoresis is often followed by staining or blotting procedures used to identify the separated molecules.
Basic Procedure
In electrophoresis, an electric field is generated to separate charged molecules that are suspended in a matrix or gel support. Negatively charged molecules move toward the anode, on one side of the gel, and positively charged molecules move toward the cathode, on the other side. The gel itself is a porous matrix, or meshwork, often made of carbohydrate chains. Molecules are pulled through the open spaces in the gel, but they are slowed down by the meshwork based on their differing properties.
The parameters that determine the migration rate of these molecules through the meshwork are the strength of the electric field, the composition of the gel support or matrix, the composition of the liquid buffer solution the gel sits in, and the size, shape, charge, and chemical composition of the molecules being separated.
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