Gel Electrophoresis Questions and Answers

Briefly summarize how gel electrophoresis is used to separate molecules - ️️when the molecules are placed in the individual wells they are all at the same distance because all the wells were created with the same comb. Gel electrophoresis is applying an electrical current to separate the molecules. Once gel electrophoresis is ran, the negative dyes will run towards the positive end of the gel and the positive dyes will run towards the negative end of the gel. The heavier dyes will run a shorter distance compared to the lighter dyes, this is how they are separated out. What is agarose? - ️️it acts as a type of molecular strainer and prevents all the molecules from moving too quickly. The electric current moves DNA molecules across the agarose. The agarose gel is used to visualize the fragments. It can be used to separate DNA molecules ranging from several hundred nucleotides in length to ober 10,000 nucleotides. What are other techniques used to separate and identify molecules? - ️️distillation, crystallization, liquid chromatography, gas chromatography, atomic absorption Who invented gel electrophoresis? - ️️Oliver Smithies Define the process of gel electrophoresis - ️️applying an electrical current to a gelatin-like substance containing biological samples. When mixtures are placed within the wells of the gel and an electrical current is applied , the molecules travel through the gel and separate from one another according to each molecule's charge, size and shape. Define Gel Electrophoresis - ️️laboratory method used to separate mixtures of DNA according to molecular size. Molecules are separated by being pushed through an electrical field through a gel that contains small pores. What is the agarose made from? - ️️an extract of red algae What is the function of electrophoresis buffer? - ️️the buffer keeps the pH within a narrow range. The charge is also transmitted via ions provided by the buffer. What is the function of the wells in the gel? - ️️the sample being ran in gel electrophoresis is loaded into the wells of the gel. What is the function of the electric current? - ️️shocks it so that it will move towards the positive and negative sides.Why don't all dyes travel the same distance or the same direction in the wells? - ️️each dye has a different molecular weight, which will cause them to travel different distances. The dyes will travel different directions depending on their charges. Negatives will travel towards the positive end of the gel and the positives will travel towards the negative end of the gel. What are three errors that could affect the outcome of any gel electrophoresis procedure? - ️️1. placing dyes in the wrong wells. 2. piercing the well with the micropipette. 3. running the gel for too long. What are the two different types of DNA testing? - ️️1. Y chromosome testing. 2. Mitochondrial testing What is Y chromosome testing? - ️️the Y chromosome is passed on from the father to son. The Y chromosome is the ideal chromosome for determining if one male is directly related to another man. A grandfather, father and son all share the same STR pattern on the Y chromosome. What is mitochondrial testing? - ️️mitochondria are inherited solely from the mother. A mother's mitochondrial DNA can be compared with that of her children and those of her daughter's children, etc. through the maternal line.