DNA electrophoresis separates DNA fragments by size using an electric field and agarose gel. Ethidium bromide is used to visualize the bands formed by DNA fragments of different sizes. This process is used in various scientific studies and is useful for replicating, separating, or examining genes on DNA strands.
DNA electrophoresis is the process of isolating the DNA fragment based on the attraction of that fragment to an electric pole. This process is used to separate DNA fragments according to their respective sizes through a polar attraction across an electrical gradient. Nucleic acids form the pegs of a double helix of DNA, the backbone of which is made up of sugars deoxyribose and phosphates, which give it a negative charge. Scientists can take advantage of the fact that this negative charge is attracted to a positive electrode through an electric field.
The DNA electrophoresis process is done by running the DNA on a gel substrate through a buffer or an electrolyte substrate such as salt water. An agarose gel that has been immersed in salt water can withstand an electrical gradient flowing through it continuously. By making many copies of DNA, usually through a process called polymerase chain reaction (PCR), a given gene can be copied exponentially from a single occurrence. Genes physically manifest themselves in segments of DNA.
Agarose is a porous substrate that allows small molecules to pass through. DNA is attracted to a positive charge, so segments of DNA of various sizes migrate through an electrolyte agarose gel within a saltwater electric field. Large segments migrate through the gel substrate more slowly than small pieces, so the DNA fragments are separated by size. By running a large number of the same size DNA fragments on an agarose gel, the sample forms a thick band.
DNA electrophoresis requires the use of an electrolyte substrate, an electric field and ethidium bromide, which is a very dangerous chemical. Ethidium bromide intercalates between nucleic acids on a DNA double helix and glows under ultraviolet (UV) light. To visualize a band of DNA on an agarose gel, the gel can be dipped in ethidium bromide and photographed under UV light. The bands formed by DNA fragments of different sizes will be shown and an experimenter can tell whether the gene of interest or the DNA fragment is present.
From the smallest organisms, such as bacteria, to the largest organisms, such as whales, species replicate by copying DNA. The code for creating the proteins needed for life is written in the genetic instructions provided by the DNA strands. DNA analysis is used in many scientific studies, including criminal investigations, animal model genetic studies, bacterial recombination, and classification of peptides. DNA denotes the code for transcription of proteins, so DNA electrophoresis is useful in any situation where a scientist or experimenter would have reason to replicate, separate or examine genes on DNA strands.
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