What is the role of gel electrophoresis in genetic analysis?

What is the role of gel electrophoresis in genetic analysis?

• A. To separate DNA fragments by size
• B. To synthesize DNA
• C. To translate proteins
• D. To transcribe RNA

Answer: (A)

Gel electrophoresis is a method used to analyze genetic material by separating DNA fragments based on size. DNA fragments carry negative charges from their phosphate backbones, so when an electric field is applied across a gel, they migrate toward the positive electrode. The gel acts like a sieve: smaller fragments move through the pores more quickly than larger ones, so their positions create a pattern of bands that reflect fragment lengths. By comparing these bands to a DNA size ladder, you can estimate fragment sizes and determine which fragments are present after steps like restriction enzyme digestion or PCR. This size-based separation is essential for tasks such as verifying PCR products, comparing allele sizes, or studying polymorphisms. It doesn’t synthesize DNA, translate proteins, or transcribe RNA—the processes that build nucleic acids and proteins. Gel electrophoresis simply separates and visualizes fragments to reveal their sizes and abundance.

Gel electrophoresis is a method used to analyze genetic material by separating DNA fragments based on size. DNA fragments carry negative charges from their phosphate backbones, so when an electric field is applied across a gel, they migrate toward the positive electrode. The gel acts like a sieve: smaller fragments move through the pores more quickly than larger ones, so their positions create a pattern of bands that reflect fragment lengths. By comparing these bands to a DNA size ladder, you can estimate fragment sizes and determine which fragments are present after steps like restriction enzyme digestion or PCR. This size-based separation is essential for tasks such as verifying PCR products, comparing allele sizes, or studying polymorphisms.

It doesn’t synthesize DNA, translate proteins, or transcribe RNA—the processes that build nucleic acids and proteins. Gel electrophoresis simply separates and visualizes fragments to reveal their sizes and abundance.