Gel Electrophoresis Lab Report

Agarose gel electrophoresis is a technique used in the laboratory to separate macromolecules such as nucleic acids and proteins. Electrophoresis can take a mixture of macromolecules of different molecular weights, shapes, and various electrical charges to determine all the various compounds in the mixture and allowing for further purification that can aid in details of individual elements of the mixture being studied. Agarose gel electrophoresis is a very important technique used in the field of molecular science. The field of forensics utilizes agarose gel electrophoresis by allowing investigators to determine from a sample of DNA removed from a crime who the suspect may be. Investigators of a crime can run the DNA collected through gel electrophoresis and then compare this DNA to suspects involved. Large amounts of knowledge can be gained about various aspects of proteins and nucleic acids by researchers implementing a few
To begin the appropriate weight of agarose is weighed out and added to a specific concentration of buffer, this mixture is then heated to ensure that all of the agarose polysaccharide is dissolved into the buffer. Once the agarose and buffer are completely mixed they are cooled to room temperature. Dyes such as ethidium bromide can then be added in order for the bands created when the current is applied to be visualized. The agarose solution is then poured into a casting tray with a comb at the end and time is allowed for the gel to completely settle, after this occurs the comb is removed and where the comb was there is now a slot/well for the sample to be added for testing. The tray is now submerged completely into the buffer solution and the sample is loaded with a pipette into the various wells for testing. Electric current is then applied and over time the sample will move throughout the gel at rates that can be effected by various