Agarose Gel Electrophoresis of DNA

Abstract

This book contains many chapters describing methods for isolating and modifying DNA molecules. The most usual way of checking the success of such procedures is by looking at the products using electrophoresis in agarose gels. This process separates DNA molecules by size, and the molecules are made visible using the fluorescent dye ethidium bromide. In this way DNA can be checked for size, intactness, homogeneity, and purity. The method is rapid and simple, yet capable of high resolution, and is so sensitive that usually little of the sample is needed for analysis.