Description: Gel electrophoresis allows for the separation of nucleic acids (DNA or RNA) and proteins based on their size. Gel electrophoresis utilizes a porous gel matrix through which proteins or nucleic acids migrate. Both nucleic acids and proteins possess a net-negative electrical charge, a property that is leveraged to facilitate the migration of the desired molecule through the medium._x000D_
The gel box features a cathode at one end and an anode at the other. The box is filled with an ionic buffer, which creates an electric field when a charge is applied. Since the proteins and nucleic acids have a uniformly negative charge, the molecules will migrate towards the positive electrode. The speed of this migration is dependent on how easily the molecules move through the pores of the gel. The smaller the molecule, the more easily they “fit†through the pores, and thus, the faster they migrate. When completed, this process results in unique bands of proteins or nucleic acids that are separated based on their molecular weight. Starting with heterogenous material, this technique is a powerful method to identify and separate distinct molecules.
