Gel+Eletrophoresis

=GEL ELECTROPHORESIS=

What is Gel electrophoresis? [[image:gel_electrophoresis.jpg]]
Gel electropheresis is the process in which macromolecules such as proteins and nucleic acids are seperated by physical characteristics, size and electrical charge. Electrphoresis is the movement of molecules under the influence of electricity. The DNA molecules are forced through the gel using electricity as the energy source. Depending on how large each segement of DNA is, it will move through the small gaps in the gel. So from there you get bands of different DNA sizes that are all bunched together.

What do you need to perform gel electrophoresis?
The gel is prepared to separate the molecules. It acts as a matrix which is a cross linked polymer whose composition and porosity is determined on the weight and composition of the target of the analysis.

How are the molecules separated?
Through a process called **gel electrophoresis** gene strands can be separated to see the different lengths of strands to organize them. >> >>>
 * This process takes place by adding a substance call ethidium bromide. This substance attaches to DNA in-between the bases with a floursecent color. The color is important because it absorbs invisible UV light to trasnmit the energy into light we can see, which is the color of the DNA strands.
 * The molecules are placed in the wells in the gel and then electric current is applied. The molecules will be pushed or pulled by the current applied. Different molecules move at different rates and negatively charged molecules will move to the anode and the positively charged molecules will move to the cathode. Depending on the size of the strand, the molecular weight of it determines how far the color will travel through the gel with the presence of the electricty that is affecting the electrons within the DNA molecules.
 * Therefore, the heavier the molecules are, the less far they will travel along the gel. But DNA molecules of the same length will move together, at the same speed and end at the same locationi. Thus, they sort themselves.
 * [|Gel Electrophesis Lab] is an exciting interactive web lab that allows you to explore this process. A MUST SEE!
 * It looks like this!

What are some applications of gel electrophoresis?
Because this technique can be used to separate small molecules, it can be used in 1. DNA fingerprinting -- since each person's DNA contains unique restriction fragments length polymorphisms (RFLPs) based on how certain sites on the the DNA are cut by length, people can be identified by the combination of the different lengths of DNA. The separation of these fragments by gel electrophoresis can be used to match DNA in court cases concerning felons or murders, to determine lineage or ancestry, and identify dead bodies otherwise withered by age. 2. The Human Genome Project -- this is a research project based on the goal of mapping the entire human genome, also known as the complete set of chromosomes that a human contains, so that scientists can further map tparts of the gene such as the genes that cause genetic disesases. 3. Recombinant DNA Technology -- this process recombines DNA from different organisms, thus making genetically modified organisms, by using restriction enzymes to put a specific protein-making sequence onto a plasmid, and then inserting that plasmid into another bacterium so that the plasmid will tell the recepient bacterium to make the proteins given to it through the recombinant DNA technology.