What is gel electrophoresis?
Q: What is gel electrophoresis?
A: Gel electrophoresis is a technique used to separate mixtures like DNA and proteins based on their charge and size.
Q: How does gel electrophoresis work?
A: An electric field is put through a gel, and molecules migrate through the gel based on their charge and size, resulting in separation of the mixture.
Q: What does the term electrophoresis mean?
A: The word electrophoresis comes from the words electro, meaning electric field, and -phoresis, meaning movement.
Q: What types of molecules are separated using gel electrophoresis?
A: Mixtures of DNA and proteins are commonly separated using gel electrophoresis.
Q: What is the role of the gel in gel electrophoresis?
A: The gel provides a medium in which the molecules can migrate based on their charge and size.
Q: How is separation achieved using gel electrophoresis?
A: Separation is achieved by applying an electric field to the gel, which causes molecules to migrate through it, separating them based on their charge and size.
Q: Why is gel electrophoresis useful?
A: Gel electrophoresis is useful for separating and analyzing mixtures of DNA and proteins, which allows researchers to better understand biological processes and diagnose diseases.