Gel electrophoresis is a technique used to separate DNA fragments (or other macromolecules, such as RNA and proteins) based on their size and charge. Electrophoresis involves running a current through a gel containing the molecules of interest. Based on their size and charge, the molecules will travel through the gel in different directions or at different speeds, allowing them to be separated from one another. All DNA molecules have the same amount of charge per mass. Because of this, gel electrophoresis of DNA fragments separates them based on size only. Using electrophoresis, we can see how many different DNA fragments are present in a sample and how large they are relative to one another. We can also determine the absolute size of a piece of DNA by examining it next to a standard "yardstick" made up of DNA fragments of known sizes. Separation of molecules in electrophoresis is based on charge (the thing that gets pulled) and the effective cross-section of the molecule in whatever state it finds itself – folded, unfolded, bound to other molecules, etc. A collection of DNA fragments separate by length because they are all the same type of molecule. In general, the only meaningful difference between the various fragments should be their length. However, there are some exceptions to this rule. For instance, some DNA molecules are circular (like bacterial plasmids), while others are linear. Circular DNA molecules may run differently than linear ones through a gel. Plasmids, for example, can exist in a form called "supercoiled," in which they actually move faster through a gel. - -credit @b.m.d.e, follow for interesting videos. #dynamic_science #thescientificreporters #scicomm #biology #biochemistry #physics #mathematics #maths #chemistryteachers #water #melon #watermelon #biochemistry#sciencecommunication #scicommindia #scicomms #phd #phdlife #phdstudents #biochem #bioquimica #medicalscience #biomedicalscience #cellbiology #cellularbiology https://www.instagram.com/p/B7QFtD-p_Iv/?igshid=1eqmlstz6rlbp
