Gel Electrophoresis & DNA Fingerprinting

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What is gel electrophoresis?

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A laboratory technique used to separate DNA, RNA, or proteins based on their size and charge.

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What is the purpose of gel electrophoresis?

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To separate DNA based on size.

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How does DNA move in gel electrophoresis?

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DNA is negatively charged and moves towards the positive electrode.

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What determines the distance DNA fragments travel in gel electrophoresis?

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The size of the DNA fragments; smaller fragments travel farther than larger ones.

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What is DNA fingerprinting?

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A technique used to identify individuals based on unique patterns in their DNA.

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What is the role of agarose gel in gel electrophoresis?

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Agarose gel acts as a medium through which DNA fragments can move, separating them by size.

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Why do larger DNA fragments appear closer to the wells in gel electrophoresis?

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Larger fragments move more slowly through the gel and therefore do not travel as far as smaller fragments.

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What is the significance of DNA profiling in forensic science?

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DNA profiling helps to identify individuals involved in a crime by comparing DNA samples.

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What is the charge of DNA?

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DNA has a negative charge due to its phosphate backbone.

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What is the first step in DNA fingerprinting?

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Extracting DNA from a sample.