Electrophoresis

By John Darwin, Wes Gallagher, and Thompson Grant

History of Electrophoresis

• Generally known as the electrokinetic phenomenon

• It was discovered in Russia by a man named Reuss in 1809

• It is the motion of dispersed particles relative to a fluid under the influence of an electric field that is space uniform

Electrophoresis in Forensic Science

• Gel Electrophoresis for:• 1.Map the order of restriction fragments within

chromosomes• 2.To analyze DNA variation within a

population by restriction fragment length polymorphisms

• 3. To determine the nucleotide sequence of a piece of DNA

Process

• The gel is made and then the molecules are moved through the gel by the electromotive force.

• After the molecules have been moved through the gel, the gel is stained to make the molecules visible.

• Ethidium Bromide is used to stain the molecules• The molecules form parallel lines and separate

from each other and the size shows the molecule’s weight

Applications

• Used in forensics, molecular biology, genetics, microbiology, and biochemistry

• Results can be seen with UV light and a gel imaging device

• The results can give DNA identification

DNA Electrophoresis

• The identification is used by the different proteins and nucleic acids separating by size

• The results are shown on a device called an electropherogram

Sources

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gel_electrophoresis

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electrophoresis

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DNA_electrophoresis

• http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/units/biotech/gel/