In the case of agarose gel electrophoresis of DNA fragments, whydo the DNA molecules move?
by admin on Friday, April 10th, 2009 | 3 Comments
Silvra asked:
I recently participated in a science lab where we did a paternity test using electrophoresis, and we got a pack full of pre-lab and post-lab questions that we have to answer. I have NO CLUE what this question is asking =
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I recently participated in a science lab where we did a paternity test using electrophoresis, and we got a pack full of pre-lab and post-lab questions that we have to answer. I have NO CLUE what this question is asking =
Create a video blog...instantly.
dna paternity
Well, electrophoresis draws charged particles to their respective poles – So that’s your reason.
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DNA is negatively charged.
Electrophoresis passes a current through the gel, which has DNA in.
The DNA molecules will move towards the anode, which is positively charged. The lightest DNA molecules move furthest because their mass is lighter.
Just remember, electrophoresis is the separation of molecules by charge and mass, mainly charge.
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DNA has a negative charge. Depending on the charge of the anode you are using, DNA will flow toward or away from it (toward positive, away from negative). The smaller DNA fragments will move through the gel faster than larger fragments, and after a period of electrophoresis you will have a gel with DNA fragments ranging from large to small, with the smaller ones having traveled farther than the large fragments. This process uses the charge on DNA to separate fragments by mass.