How to Read Gel Electrophoresis

Gel electrophoresis is the last of many steps in determining a DNA fingerprint, determining paternity or searching for a genetic marker for disease. The process takes samples of DNA that are cut into smaller pieces and runs an electric current through the gel to move the DNA pieces. When this process is completed and the gel is stained, different lines of DNA will appear and the size of those DNA samples determines the DNA fingerprint.

Things You'll Need

  • Stained cel
  • UV transilluminator or white light box
  • DNA marker ladder
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Instructions

  1. Reading the gel

    • 1

      Place the stained gel on a UV transilluminator if it was stained with ethidium bromide. Place the stained gel on a white light box if it was stained with methlyene blue.

    • 2

      Turn on the illuminator and identify the length of the DNA samples in the ladder lane.

    • 3

      Compare the samples in the first lane to the closest DNA sample in the marker ladder. Extrapolate this information to give you an approximate length of the DNA samples in this lane.

    • 4

      Repeat Step 3 for each different lane that has a DNA sample.

    • 5

      Compare the lengths of the samples in each well to each other to find similarities.

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