gel electropherosis

• Utilised to separate and isolate DNA fragments based on their size (length/number of bases)
• An agarose gel is prepared and loaded into a gel tank filled with a buffer solution and connected to a power supply. DNA fragments are mixed with loading dye and pipetted into the wells.
• A DNA ladder sample is placed in the first lane. This contains DNA fragments of known sizes to compare and help estimate the size of DNA fragments in various samples.
• An electric current is applied causing the smaller fragments to travel further and faster through the gel than longer fragments. After a certain time, the gel is viewed under UV light.