Single Choice

Having become an expert on gel electrophoresis, you are asked to examine a gel for a colleague. Where would you find the smallest segments of DNA?

ANear the positive electrode, farthest away from the wells
Correct Answer
BNear the negative electrode, close to the wells
CNear the negative electrode, farthest away from the wells
DNear the middle, they tend to slow down after the first few minutes

Solution

Since DNA is itself negatively charged, it would move towards the positive electrode. In gel electrophoresis, DNA fragments are separated on the basis of charge and masses. Thus, smaller the DNA fragment farther it moves from the well.
So, the correct option is A.

SIMILAR QUESTIONS

Biotechnology

Which of the following steps should be performed by a person in order to visualise the bands of DNA fragments obtained from gel electrophoresis?

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Select the correct option to fill up the blanks. (i) _____ is a natural polymer extracted from ______. (ii) The DNA fragments purified by gel electrophoresis are used in constructing _____ by joining them with ______. (iii) The ligation of alien DNA is carried out at a _____ present in one of the two ____ in a plasmid vector. (iv) _____ enzyme remains active during the high temperature-induced denaturation of ds DNA. DNA fragments are resolved according to their ______ (v) through _____ in agarose gel electrophoresis.

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A plasmid DNA and a linear DNA (both are of the same size) have one site for a restriction endonuclease. When cut and separated on agarose gel electrophoresis, plasmid shows one DNA band while linear DNA shows two fragments. Explain.

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How does one visualise DNA on an agarose gel?

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A mixture of fragmented DNA was electrophoresed in an agarose gel. After staining the gel with ethidium bromide, no DNA bands were observed. What could be the reason?

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