How Can Fragments of DNA Be Separated From One Another? Agarose gel electrophoresis is a procedure used to separate DNA fragments based on their sizes. DNA is an acid and has many negative electrical charges due to the negatively charged phosphate-deoxyribose backbone. Scientists have used this fact to modify chromatography to separate pieces of DNA. A solution containing a mixture of DNA fragments of variable sizes is placed into a small well formed in an agarose gel (that has a texture similar to gelatin). An electric current causes the negatively-charged DNA molecules to move towards the positive electrode. Imagine the gel as a strainer with tiny pores that allow small particles to move through it very quickly. The larger the size of the particles, however, the slower they are strained through the gel. After a period of exposure to the electrical current, the DNA fragments will sort themselves out by size. Fragments that are the same size will tend to move together through the gel and form bands. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vtxb6Tr8Y3s A C + Negative 4. The piece of DNA above is cut into four fragments as shown in the diagram. A solution containing the four fragments is placed in a well in an agarose gel. Using the information given above, Well Draw (to the right) how you think the fragments might be separated Label each fragment with its corresponding letter. Where would the larger fragments, those with the greater number of base pairs, be located, toward the top or the bottom of the gel? Why? 土 Agarose gel Positive Suppose you had 500 pieces of each of the four fragments, how would the gel appear? Suppose you had 500 pieces of random sizes at the same size or larger than fragment B, how would the gel appear? If it were possible to weigh each of the fragments, which one would be the heaviest? WVhy?
How Can Fragments of DNA Be Separated From One Another? Agarose gel electrophoresis is a procedure used to separate DNA fragments based on their sizes. DNA is an acid and has many negative electrical charges due to the negatively charged phosphate-deoxyribose backbone. Scientists have used this fact to modify chromatography to separate pieces of DNA. A solution containing a mixture of DNA fragments of variable sizes is placed into a small well formed in an agarose gel (that has a texture similar to gelatin). An electric current causes the negatively-charged DNA molecules to move towards the positive electrode. Imagine the gel as a strainer with tiny pores that allow small particles to move through it very quickly. The larger the size of the particles, however, the slower they are strained through the gel. After a period of exposure to the electrical current, the DNA fragments will sort themselves out by size. Fragments that are the same size will tend to move together through the gel and form bands. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vtxb6Tr8Y3s A C + Negative 4. The piece of DNA above is cut into four fragments as shown in the diagram. A solution containing the four fragments is placed in a well in an agarose gel. Using the information given above, Well Draw (to the right) how you think the fragments might be separated Label each fragment with its corresponding letter. Where would the larger fragments, those with the greater number of base pairs, be located, toward the top or the bottom of the gel? Why? 土 Agarose gel Positive Suppose you had 500 pieces of each of the four fragments, how would the gel appear? Suppose you had 500 pieces of random sizes at the same size or larger than fragment B, how would the gel appear? If it were possible to weigh each of the fragments, which one would be the heaviest? WVhy?
Human Anatomy & Physiology (11th Edition)
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Chapter1: The Human Body: An Orientation
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Nucleotides
It is an organic molecule made up of three basic components- a nitrogenous base, phosphate,and pentose sugar. The nucleotides are important for metabolic reactions andthe formation of DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) and RNA (ribonucleic acid).
Nucleic Acids
Nucleic acids are essential biomolecules present in prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells and viruses. They carry the genetic information for the synthesis of proteins and cellular replication. The nucleic acids are of two types: deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and ribonucleic acid (RNA). The structure of all proteins and ultimately every biomolecule and cellular component is a product of information encoded in the sequence of nucleic acids. Parts of a DNA molecule containing the information needed to synthesize a protein or an RNA are genes. Nucleic acids can store and transmit genetic information from one generation to the next, fundamental to any life form.
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Transcribed Image Text:How Can Fragments of DNA Be Separated From One Another?
Agarose gel electrophoresis is a procedure used to separate DNA fragments based on their sizes. DNA is an acid and has many
negative electrical charges due to the negatively charged phosphate-deoxyribose backbone. Scientists have used this fact to modify
chromatography to separate pieces of DNA. A solution containing a mixture of DNA fragments of variable sizes is placed into a
small well formed in an agarose gel (that has a texture similar to gelatin). An electric current causes the negatively-charged DNA
molecules to move towards the positive electrode. Imagine the gel as a strainer with tiny pores that allow small particles to move
through it very quickly. The larger the size of the particles, however, the slower they are strained through the gel. After a period of
exposure to the electrical current, the DNA fragments will sort themselves out by size. Fragments that are the same size will tend
to move together through the gel and form bands. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vtxb6Tr8Y3s
B
Negative
4. The piece of DNA above is cut into four fragments as shown in the
diagram. A solution containing the four fragments is placed in a well
in an agarose gel. Using the information given above,
Well
Draw (to the right) how you think the fragments might be separated
Label each fragment with its corresponding letter.
leg
Where would the larger fragments, those with the greater number of
base pairs, be located, toward the top or the bottom of the gel? Why?
Agarose gel
Positive
Suppose you had 500 pieces of each of the four fragments, how would the gel appear?
Suppose you had 500 pieces of random sizes at the same size or larger than fragment B, how would the gel appear?
If it were possible to weigh each of the fragments, which one would be the heaviest? Why?
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