4D - Gel Electrophoresis Flashcards
gel electrophoresis
A technique that separates DNA fragments based on their molecular size.
well
An indent in the gel into which a DNA sample is loaded.
standard ladder
A mixture of DNA fragments of known length that are used to infer the size of fragments in a sample.
agarose gel
A sponge-like gel used in gel electrophoresis that contains pores for DNA fragments to move through.
buffer
An iron-rich solution that carries electrical current through the agarose gel. It can also be used to keep pH levels constant.
electrode
Conductors of electricity that are attached to both ends of a gel allowing an electrical current to pass through it.
band
A line seen in the gel after running gel electrophoresis that corresponds to a collection of DNA fragments of a specific size.
ethidium bromide
A fluorescent dye that binds to DNA fragments in a gel and allows them to be easily visualised under ultraviolet light.
kilobase (kb)
A unit of measurement that corresponds to one thousand nucleotides. May also be written as kbp.
base pair (bp)
A unit of measurement that corresponds to one nucleotide.
lane
The column of the gel corresponding to each sample of DNA.
genetic testing
Screening an individual’s DNA for anomalies that may make them susceptible to a particular disease or disorder.
DNA profiling
The process of identification on the basis of an individual’s genetic information.
homozygous
Having identical alleles for the same gene on homologous chromosomes.
heterozygous
Having different alleles for the same gene on homologous chromosomes.
