Gel Electrophoresis
Source Institutions
-
The Exploratorium
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In this activity, learners simulate the process of DNA fingerprinting by using electricity to separate colored dyes. Learners use simple materials to assemble a comb (electrophoresis chamber) to hold the samples, make a 0.2% sodium bicarbonate buffer and 1% gel solution, connect a high voltage power supply, and prepare 5 different samples. Then learners test their model and observe each sample.
- Under 5 minutes
- 1 to 2 hours
- Over $20 per group of students
- Ages 11 - 18
- Activity, Experiment/Lab Activity, Lesson/Lesson Plan, Model, Simulation
- English
Quick Guide
Materials List (per group of students)
- small plastic box approximately 8x12 cm
- 2 regular popsicle sticks
- 2 narrow popsicle sticks (coffee stirrer kind)
- scissors
- masking tape
- two 5 in pieces of stainless steel wire
- 2 electrical leads with alligator clips
- five 9V batteries
- water
- baking soda
- agar-agar powder or agarose
- mat knife or razor blade
- food coloring
- glycerin
- needle-tip disposable pipet
- beaker of water for rinsing tips between samples (optional)
Subjects
- Engineering and Technology
- Engineering
- Bioengineering/Biomedical Engineering
- Technology
- Medical Technology
- Agriculture and Biotechnology
- Engineering
- Life Sciences
- Heredity and Genetics
- DNA Structure and Function
- Genetic Engineering
- Heredity and Genetics
- Physical Sciences
- Electricity and Magnetism
- Electric Charges and Currents
- Electricity and Magnetism
- The Nature of Science
- The Scientific Process
- Conducting Investigations
- The Scientific Process
- The Nature of Technology
- Technology and Society
- Impacts of Technology
- Technology and Society
Informal Categories
- Crime Science
- Electronics
- Model Building
Audience
To use this activity, learners need to:
- see
- see color
- read
- touch
Learning styles supported:
- Involves hands-on or lab activities
Other
This resource is part of:
Access Rights:
- Free access
By:
- Yu, Julie
Rights:
- All Rights Reserved, Exploratorium, ©2007
Funding Sources:
- National Science Foundation, 0610238
- National Science Foundation, 0925383
