6. Agarose gel electrophoresis
In order to make sure the DNA is in good condition and to determine how much DNA we obtained from the extraction procedure we can run the DNA on a gel. This works on a similar principle to protein electrophoresis. The DNA is mixed with a dye, and loaded in wells of the gel which sits in a tank between a positive and negative electrode (right).
When an electrical current is applied, DNA will tend to move towards the positive electrode. Small fragments of DNA can move more easily through the gel than larger ones and so all the different sizes spread out.
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