Gel Electrophoresis
Definition
A laboratory method used to separate mixtures of DNA, RNA, or proteins according to molecular size.
Analogy
Think of gel electrophoresis like a race track. The DNA, RNA, or proteins are the runners and the gel is the track. The smaller 'runners' (molecules) can move faster and further along the track while larger ones lag behind.
Related terms
Agarose Gel: A type of gel used in electrophoresis that's made from seaweed. It's like the specific type of terrain on which our race (gel electrophoresis) takes place.
DNA Ladder: This is a mixture of DNA fragments with known lengths, used as a reference during gel electrophoresis. It's like having markers along our race track to measure how far each runner has gone.
Polyacrylamide Gel: Another type of gel used in electrophoresis for separating smaller molecules. It’s like changing the terrain from grass (agarose) to sand (polyacrylamide), making it harder for small runners to get through.
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