1. How to fingerprint the bad guy
DNA electrophoreisis
How to fingerprint the bad guy

2. Electrophoresis
This is a method for separating molecules that have a different :
shape,
size or
electric charge.

3. 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.

4. 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

5. 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 -

6. Smaller molecules will run faster than larger molecules be cause they fit through the net more easily.
Streamlined molecules also travel faster.