2. What is Gel Electrophoresis?
Gel electrophoresis is a
process that separates
fragments of DNA based on
their sizes.
3. Step 1
Place DNA into tubes
DNA can come
from tissue or
body fluid, such as
cheek cells, blood,
skin, and hair.
4. Step 2
Polymerase Chain Reaction
The polymerase chain
reaction uses a machine
called a thermocycler to
quickly copy a piece of
DNA.
Continue these
three steps 30 to
40 times to get lots
of copies of DNA.
5. Step 3
Place restriction enzymes into DNA
The restriction enzymes
cut the DNA into different
sizes according to it’s
sequence.
6. Step 4
Dye DNA and place into gel
The gel is made with
The gel is made out of wells at one end so
agarose, which is similar that the DNA can be
to jello. loaded into the gel.
7. Step 5
Run electric current through gel
DNA is negatively
charged so it will move
towards the positively
charged end of the gel.
8. Step 6
Smaller pieces of DNA travel farther than Larger
pieces of DNA
End result!
9. Gel Electrophoresis is used to...
Solve criminal cases
Solve paternity cases
Diagnose genetic diseases
Determine genetic kinship among species
10. Pros Cons
Easy to do Expensive
DNA does not get ruined in the Time consuming
process Uses hazardous material
You only need a small amount
of DNA to start with
DNA can be detected no matter
what size it is
