Gel Electrophoresis By Erin Martin & Satya Moolani

What is gel electrophoresis? Gel electrophoresis is a method for separation and analysis of macromolecules (DNA, RNA and proteins) and their fragments, based on their size and charge.DNARNAproteins

Step 1: The DNA is cut by restriction enzymes Restriction enzymes are enzymes found in bacteria that cut DNA into fragments. In the first example, the restriction enzyme is CCC/GGG which cuts the DNA and results in blunt ends. In the second example, the restriction enzyme is G/AATTC which cuts the DNA and results in sticky ends.

Step 2: Electrical current separates the DNA pieces Since DNA is negatively charged, it will move from the well towards the bottom of the gel. The gel sorts the DNA molecules by size; smallest towards the bottom of the gel and larger toward the top since the smaller DNA molecules can move through the gel faster that the larger DNA molecules.

Step 3: Separated DNA pieces are transferred to a membrane A method called southern blotting is used to transfer the DNA fragments onto a membrane.

Step 4: Chemicals make the bands visible During the preparation of the gel, a chemical is added to the gel that binds the DNA and makes the bands visible under a UV light.

Work Cited  techniques/gel-electrophoresis techniques/gel-electrophoresis   _ electrophoresis _ electrophoresis  _ blot _ blot