Gel Electrophoresis

Front

What is gel electrophoresis?

Back

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

Front

What is the purpose of adding enzymes to DNA before gel electrophoresis?

Back

To cut the DNA into fragments for analysis.

Front

How does gel electrophoresis separate DNA fragments?

Back

By applying an electric current, which causes the negatively charged DNA to move through a gel matrix, separating fragments by size.

Front

What is the role of the gel in gel electrophoresis?

Back

The gel acts as a medium that allows smaller DNA fragments to move faster than larger ones, facilitating separation.

Front

What are the two main types of gels used in electrophoresis?

Back

Agarose gel and polyacrylamide gel.

Front

What is the significance of the size of DNA fragments in gel electrophoresis?

Back

Smaller fragments migrate faster and further through the gel than larger fragments, allowing for size estimation.

Front

What is a DNA ladder in gel electrophoresis?

Back

A mixture of known DNA fragments used as a reference to determine the size of unknown DNA samples.

Front

What is the charge of DNA, and how does it affect its movement in gel electrophoresis?

Back

DNA is negatively charged due to its phosphate backbone, causing it to move towards the positive electrode in an electric field.

Front

What is the purpose of staining DNA after gel electrophoresis?

Back

To visualize the DNA bands for analysis and comparison.

Front

What can gel electrophoresis be used for in forensic science?

Back

To compare DNA samples from crime scenes with suspects to identify potential matches.