Gel Electrophoresis
Pre-Assignment
- How can the size of the molecules be determined from their migration distance on the finished gel?
- Is there any direct relationship between the molar mass and the size of these dye molecules? Illustrate.
- What was direction of electron flow through the gel?
- Why should one not touch the gel while the electrophoresis was running?
- Can one use an alternating current (A.C.) power supply source for gel electrophoresis? Why?
- Why do the charged particles in a well move during electrophoresis run?
- What are the effects of variations in the applied voltage on the gel electrophoresis?
- What is the function of the comb?
Post-Assignment
- Why does one see bubbles coming out in the electrode chambers?
- Why had all the dyes not moved in the same direction through the gel?
- Which of the dyes moved to the positive end of the gel?
- What is the electrical charge adopted by Orange G under the experimental condition?
- Which of the dyes were positively charged under the experimental condition?
- Can one say which dye molecule has most likely the smallest size?
- What would happen if one had placed the comb on the end/side slot of the casting tray?
- If you wanted to run only DNA samples through the gel, where would you prefer to place the comb - on the middle or end slot of the tray and what should be the arrangement of the loading wells with respect to the electrodes?