1. Gel Electrophoresis Biotechnology Unit

2. Principles of Electrophoresis Definition – Process in which particle, DNA, RNA and proteins- or their fragments are separated by their charge and paricle size

3. Materials Electric current is passed through a gel, most commonly agarose, which is a sugar from marine algae Electrophoresis chamber with anode and cathode Red + patch cord, black – patch cord Electrophoresis chamber

4. How does it work? Each sample is placed in a well Electric current is applied across the gel One end is – (anion), other is + (cathode) Molecules with a negative charge migrate to cathode, positive to anode

5. Size Matters Smaller molecules move easily-faster rate, further the distance Migrate to opposite charge Largest molecules closer to the wells Disconnect, measure from the middle of the well to the middle center of the band molecular mass is kDA or base-pair equivalents BP distance is distance travels intersects the standard curve, read y axis Use curve in your lab