Define Electrophoresis
When an electric field is applied across two electrodes that are totally submerged in a colloidal solution, the particles (colloidal) tend to move towards one or the other electrode. This movement of particles under the effect of the electric field is known as electrophoresis.
How do we find the existence of charge on colloidal particles? Electrophoresis is the answer.
Ferdinand Frederic Reuss was the first man to observe this phenomenon in 1807. The positively charged particles (cations) that moved toward the cathode were termed as cataphoresis whereas the negatively charged particles (anions) that moved towards the anode were termed as anaphoresis.
This technique is carried out in laboratories to carry out DNA and RNA analysis. This technique uses a negative charge to move proteins towards the positive charge.
Table of Contents
Types of Electrophoresis
We could witness its various types used in different industries, some are:
· Paper Electrophoresis
· Agarose Gel Electrophoresis
· Pulsed Field Electrophoresis
· Capillary Electrophoresis
· Microchip Electrophoresis
Electrophoresis used in the Medical Industry.
Gel Electrophoresis:
Let us explain this with the help of an experiment. We use a small test tube with some clear liquid in it and that liquid contains DNA strands of different lengths.
DNA strands can be classified into short, medium and long strands. DNA strands are so small that you can’t even see them under the microscope, but there is a way to find out the DNA strands without touching them or seeing them.
This method is known as Gel electrophoresis. This technique is also helpful in the separation of molecules like proteins. A gel is like a sponge and has many holes in it and the gel is used as a filter that sorts the DNA strands. There are small holes present at one end of the gel and we place the DNA samples into these holes. Then with the help of an electric current, we make the DNA move and with the help of the electrophoresis process, we push the DNA strands through the gel filter.
Long strands move slowly as compared to small strands through the holes in the gel and the strands with the same length will move at the same speed. In this way DNA strands sort themselves. To make the strands visible to the naked eye, we stain the sorted group of DNA strands.
Protein Electrophoresis
This method is used to count the presence of abnormal proteins and the absence of normal proteins and also to identify the types of proteins present in high or low amounts in the blood. In this process, proteins are divided on the basis of size and electrical charge.
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