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Gel Electrophoresis - Practice Questions & MCQ

Edited By admin | Updated on Sep 18, 2023 18:34 AM | #NEET

Quick Facts

  • Gel Electrophoresis is considered one of the most asked concept.

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Gel Electrophoresis
  • The term gel electrophoresis refers to a technique used for separation and analysis of DNA, RNA, and proteins based on their size and charge. 
  • The cutting of DNA by restriction endonucleases results in the fragments of DNA. 
  • These fragments can be separated by a technique known as gel electrophoresis.
  • Since DNA fragments are negatively-charged molecules they can be separated by forcing them to move towards the anode under an electric field through a medium/matrix. 
  • Nowadays the most commonly used matrix is agarose which is a natural polymer extracted from seaweeds.
  • The DNA fragments separate (resolve) according to their size through sieving effect provided by the agarose gel. 
  • Hence, the smaller the fragment size, the farther it moves. 
  • The separated DNA fragments can be visualized only after staining the DNA with a compound known as ethidium bromide followed by exposure to UV radiation\
  • Bright orange colored bands of DNA in an ethidium bromide-stained gel exposed to UV light will be seen.
  • The separated bands of DNA are cut out from the agarose gel and extracted from the gel piece in a step called elution.
  • The DNA fragments purified in this way are used in constructing recombinant DNA by joining them with cloning vectors.
     

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