Gel electrophoresis

Gel electrophoresis separates charged molecules by driving them through a porous gel with an electric field. Their migration depends on properties such as size, charge, and gel composition.

Electrophoresis: The movement of charged particles through a medium under an electric field. Gel electrophoresis is a form of electrophoresis in which a porous gel acts as the medium.
DNA profiling: The analysis of DNA variation to distinguish individuals or biological samples. Gel-separated DNA fragments can reveal differences used in some profiling methods.
Nucleic acid: A polymer of nucleotides, including DNA and RNA, that stores or transmits genetic information. Nucleic acids are common analytes because their phosphate backbones carry negative charge.
Capillary electrophoresis: An electrophoretic separation performed inside a narrow capillary, often using a liquid buffer. It replaces the slab gel with a capillary and supports automated, rapid analyses.
Arne Tiselius: A Swedish biochemist who developed moving-boundary electrophoresis and received the 1948 Nobel Prize in Chemistry. His work established electrophoresis as a method for separating and studying proteins.
Agarose gel electrophoresis: A method that separates nucleic acids through a gel made from agarose. Agarose pores sort DNA fragments chiefly by length.
Restriction fragment length polymorphism: A genetic variation detected through differences in the lengths of DNA fragments produced by restriction enzymes. Gel electrophoresis separates the fragments whose length differences define the pattern.
Protein: A molecule made of amino-acid chains that fold into specific structures and perform diverse functions. Protein size and charge shape migration, while denaturing methods can standardize their behavior.
Free-flow electrophoresis: A method that separates charged substances in a flowing liquid under an electric field. It separates molecules without forcing them through a stationary porous gel.
Oliver Smithies: A British-born geneticist who developed starch-gel electrophoresis for resolving proteins. His gel method improved the separation of proteins with similar properties.

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