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Gel Electrophoresis

            Gel electrophoresis is a process in which nucleic acids or other proteins are separated by way of an electrical current on the basis of size or weight. In gel electrophoresis DNA is cut to fragments by use of a special type of enzyme known as restriction endonuclease (such as EcoR1 and HindIII the enzymes used in our lab) of varying lengths. The restriction enzymes cut the DNA in what are called staggered cuts; cuts that are offset yet still divide the DNA into half with two long strands and two short strands called sticky ends. Then the DNA fragments are mixed with TBE buffer and this solution is placed in a thick gel composed of agarose and a polyacrylamide. Dissolving agarose powder in boiling water and then the letting the mixture creates a gel much the same as that found in Jell-O; a gel that hardens as it cools. Before the gel hardens, a comb is placed in the mixture. This comb creates "wells" in the gel that will be used to hold the DNA fragments After this, an electric current is applied to the gel creating a one end to have a positive charge and the other end to have a negative one. Since DNA contains a negative charge the fragments are attracted to the positive end. The smaller fragments move faster then the larger fragments. When the current shuts off the DNA fragments are spread across the gel with the longer fragments farthest away from the positive end and the shortest ends closest to it. The ideal gel and the results of our lab differed. This is because the "ideal gel" was denser which results in better separation. To obtain the same results as the "ideal gel we would have required more agarose solution.The fragments form a pattern almost resembling a bar code, each bar containing DNA fragments of a certain size. The location of these fragments indetify specific restriction fragments for scientists. Gel Electrphoresis is commonly used in law to prove whether suspects were present in a crime scene or not.


Essays Related to Gel Electrophoresis

1. Electrophoresis

This technology is demonstrated in the following areas: Electrophoresis of Protein, Electrophoresis of DNA, Gel Electrophoresis, and Polyacrylamide Electrophoresis. ... Gel electrophoresis is a method used to separate biomolecules. ... Gel electrophoresis is one of the staple tools in molecular biology and is of critical value in many aspects of genetic manipulation and study. ... Gel electrophoresis makes it possible to determine the genetic difference and the relationship among species of plants and animals. ... These DNA samples can be separated using gel electrophoresis. ...

  • Word Count: 1589
  • Approx Pages: 6
  • Grade Level: Undergraduate

2. Electrophoresis

This technology is demonstrated in the following areas: Electrophoresis of Protein, Electrophoresis of DNA, Gel Electrophoresis, and Polyacrylamide Electrophoresis. ... Gel electrophoresis is a method used to separate biomolecules. ... Gel electrophoresis is one of the staple tools in molecular biology and is of critical value in many aspects of genetic manipulation and study. ... Gel electrophoresis makes it possible to determine the genetic difference and the relationship among species of plants and animals. ... These DNA samples can be separated using gel electrophoresis. ...

  • Word Count: 1595
  • Approx Pages: 6
  • Grade Level: Undergraduate

3. Experiment - Genetically Modified Foods

The ability to amplify these DNA sequence allows scientists to further analyze these DNA sequence using gel-electrophoresis. ... To set up for electrophoresis, the gel is placed in the chamber and filled with buffer. ... Using Gel Doc Imager, the photo of the gel get taken. ... Using Gel Electrophoresis, high-quality DNA migrated from its original position due to the electrical current. ... Hence gel electrophoresis only detects approximately 85% of GM food, thus no statements can be concluded about a food being non-GMO(1).Not only does this finding supports the hypothesis, it also agrees wit...

  • Word Count: 1122
  • Approx Pages: 4
  • Has Bibliography
  • Grade Level: High School

4. Separating Biological Macromolecules by Agarose Gel Electrop

Separating Biological Macromolecules by Agarose Gel Electrophoresis Purpose Electrophoresis is a method of separating biological macromolecules like DNA and proteins from a mixture of similar molecules. ... Agarose and acrylamide gels are the media commonly used for electrophoresis. ... SDS-PAGE (sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis): SDS is one of the most common types of electrophoresis. ... Electrofocusing Gels: Another variation of gel electrophoresis is to pour a gel that purposely has a pH gradient from one end to the other. ... Pulsed-Field Gel Electrophoresis: ...

  • Word Count: 1328
  • Approx Pages: 5

5. Electrophoresis

The separation of native proteins by electrophoresis using agarose gel as a medium II. ... Electrophoresis is the movement of charged molecules under the influence of an electric field. ... The agarose gel has become a regular medium for this type of experiment because it serves as a matrix for the buffer in which the sample molecules will be traveling. ... Electrophoresis of proteins is usually performed at a pH above the isoelectric point of most proteins. ... This shows the values of the electrophoresis experiment. ...

  • Word Count: 858
  • Approx Pages: 3
  • Grade Level: High School

6. The Transformation of Bacterial DNA

The following week involved the use of electrophoresis to separate sample components and isolated the GFP protein. When preparing the gel the 1% concentrated gel is used because it is easier to handle. ... As shown in Figure 4, each of our samples contained a contaminant (RNA), which is why our gel has bands in it. ... When using electrophoresis, I had two samples, one heated and one non-heated. ... When loading the DNA onto the gel, we used a buffer similar to the DNA buffer used for visibility and weight. ...

  • Word Count: 811
  • Approx Pages: 3
  • Grade Level: High School

7. Microsatellites In DNA

The newly made DNA is then ran through electrophoresis. ... The sample was placed in an argarase gel. ... Because 3 primer sets were used there will be 3-6 bands visible in the gel. ... The size and charge determine the configuration in the gel after the procedure is complete. ... The polymerize chain reaction and electrophoresis is used to detect these gene sequences. ...

  • Word Count: 1018
  • Approx Pages: 4
  • Has Bibliography
  • Grade Level: High School

8. Genetic Fingerprinting

Genetic finger printing is the greatest advance in science since finger printing itself. Genetic fingerprinting was first developed as an identification technique in 1985. It was originally used to detect genetic diseases but it was soon used in criminal investigations. DNA is extracted from ...

  • Word Count: 328
  • Approx Pages: 1
  • Grade Level: High School

9. DNA Fingerprinting - Polymerase Chain Reaction

The amplified DNA produced from the PCR, is then run on an electrophoresis gel to allow for comparison of the size of fragments originating from different samples of DNA. ... By running the electric current for a certain amount of time, the different sized pieces of DNA will migrate through the gel and separate by size. The location of the DNA in the gel can be revealed by using a dye that binds to and labels producing a line called a band on the gel. ...

  • Word Count: 815
  • Approx Pages: 3
  • Has Bibliography

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