Explain the role of agarose in gel electrophoresis.

Agarose forms a gel matrix that allows DNA molecules to travel through it, separating them based on size.

What are restriction enzymes and why are they important in gel electrophoresis?

Restriction enzymes cut DNA into fragments at specific sequences, allowing for comparisons between different DNA samples.

Smaller fragments move faster and farther than larger fragments.

By comparing the DNA band patterns of the offspring to potential parents, the most likely parent will have the most similar banding pattern.

I can describe how gel electrophoresis is used in DNA fingerprinting and disease diagnosis.

1
Gel electrophoresis separates molecules, especially DNA, based on their size and electrical charge.
2
Restriction enzymes are used to cut DNA into smaller pieces at specific sequences, creating fragments that can be compared using gel electrophoresis.
3
DNA fingerprinting uses gel electrophoresis to compare DNA samples from different sources, such as crime scenes or family members, to identify potential matches or relationships.