Gel Electrophoresis Assessment #2

Why do gel electrophoresis?

1. To determine which organisms are most closely related. 2. To determine paternity of a child. 3. For crime scene analysis.

distance education/learning

A teaching method in which the teacher and student are not in the same location.

Gel electrophoresis

A technique used to separate segments of DNA based on their size using an electric current

Third step in gel electrophoresis

An electric charge is applied to the gel. The negatively charged DNA moves toward the positive side of the gel.

Results of gel electrophoresis

DNA fragments are separated by size. Smaller fragments move the furthest while larger fragments will be closer to the loading well. These are seen as bands within the gel.

First step in gel electrophoresis

DNA is first cut using special enzymes called restriction enzymes.

Who is the baby's dad?

Dad 2

What is gel electrophoresis for?

It is used to separate DNA fragments based upon size.

Shorter/Smaller DNA fragments

Move faster through the gel and end up further from the wells .

Larger/Longer DNA fragments

Move slower through the gel and end up closer to the wells.

Second step in gel electrophoresis

The DNA sample is loaded into an agarose gel.

Wells

The spaces that are loaded with DNA samples

DNA fingerprint

Unique sequence of DNA base pairs that can be used to identify a person at the molecular level

advantage of distance learning

convenience/flexibility

Bands

lines of DNA located at a certain position in the gel (DNA ladder).