How to fingerprint the bad guy DNA electrophoreisis How to fingerprint the bad guy
Electrophoresis This is a method for separating molecules that have a different : shape, size or electric charge.
It uses agarose gel. This is a polysaccharide made from sea weed. Because of the branches a solution makes a network where all the holes are the same size. The more concentrated the solution, the smaller the holes. A perfect molecular net.
How it works Make a gel with wells in it. Cut the DNA into small pieces with a restriction enzyme (More about this later) Cover the gel with an electrolyte solution. Load the wells with DNA This has to be done underwater with a micropipet
Running the gel Attach electrodes to a power supply and run an electrical current through the gel. If the molecules are charged + they will go to – terminal. If they are - they will migrate towards the positive terminal. + -
Smaller molecules will run faster than larger molecules be cause they fit through the net more easily. Streamlined molecules also travel faster.