1. Gel Electrophoresis and Cloning

2. Agarose Gel Electrophoresis Is a method used in Biochemistry and molecular biology to separate DNA and RNA molecules by size Proteins can also be separated using this method Separation is achieved by moving negatively charged nucleic acids through the agarose via an electric field Short molecules move faster and farther than long ones

3. Uses of Agarose Gel Electrophoresis It is mainly used to analyze DNA or RNA Allows for the purification of certain sizes of DNA Allows for a rough estimation of the quality and amount of DNA Used in DNA fingerprinting It is used in cloning to obtain cut plasmids (separates cut vectors from uncut)

4. Slots are placed in the agarose gel and DNA samples are placed in the well A dye is mixed with the sample to make it easier to see An electric current is put through the gel and this causes the DNA molecules to begin to move towards the positive end of the gel. Small molecules move faster and farther through the gel than large molecules.

5. Cloning and Gel Electrophoresis Gel electrophoresis is used to purify DNA before cloning. DNA is purified by separating it from RNA. Gel electrophoresis is also the precursor to mass spectrometry, restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP), polymerase chain reaction (PCR), DNA sequencing, and Southern Blotting. Used in the Human Genome Project.

6. Sources Arora, Anu; Fraser, Douglas; Lisser, Beth; Di Giuseppe, Maurice; Vavitsas, Angela; Ritter, Bob. Dr. Biology 12. Thomson-Nelson. Australia. 2003. Arora, Anu; Fraser, Douglas; Lisser, Beth; Di Giuseppe, Maurice; Vavitsas, Angela; Ritter, Bob. Dr. Biology 12. Thomson-Nelson. Australia. 2003. Berg JM, Tymoczko JL Stryer L (2002). Biochemistry (5th ed.). WH Freeman Berg JM, Tymoczko JL Stryer L (2002). Biochemistry (5th ed.). WH FreemanBiochemistry Blankenship, James E. Electrophoresis. Nov. 25 2010 http://www.biologyreference.com/images/biol_02_img0140.jp g Blankenship, James E. Electrophoresis. Nov. 25 2010 http://www.biologyreference.com/images/biol_02_img0140.jp g http://www.biologyreference.com/images/biol_02_img0140.jp g http://www.biologyreference.com/images/biol_02_img0140.jp g Miller, Donald. The Process of Gel Electrophoresis. Nov. 25 2010. http://www.ehow.com/how-does_5315469_process- gel-electrophoresis.html Miller, Donald. The Process of Gel Electrophoresis. Nov. 25 2010. http://www.ehow.com/how-does_5315469_process- gel-electrophoresis.htmlhttp://www.ehow.com/how-does_5315469_process- gel-electrophoresis.htmlhttp://www.ehow.com/how-does_5315469_process- gel-electrophoresis.html