Gel electrophoresis is a procedure used in laboratories to separate DNA, as well as RNA and proteins. A gel slab is placed in a box filled with buffer and an electric field is applied. The negatively charged DNA will migrate to the positively charged side, where it can then be recorded and analyzed in more detail. An example of the use of gel electrophoresis would be in the identification of people. DNA is present in almost every cell in our body. Each person has a unique sequence of DNA base pairs that make up our genetic blueprint. A DNA fingerprint is the same for every cell, tissue and organ of a person. According to Dalya Rosner on the Naked Scientists website, “DNA fingerprinting is a technique for determining the likelihood that genetic material comes from a particular individual or group. 99% of human DNA is identical between individuals, but the 1% that differs allows scientists to distinguish identity” (Rosner, 2004). This is an interesting fact and this is where the gel electrophoresis procedure can be used. Intact DNA is quite large and cannot normally move through the pores of a simple agarose gel, without using a different method (pulsed field electrophoresis). To make working with DNA easier, it is first cut into smaller pieces with enzymes called restriction enzymes. Restriction enzymes recognize specific sequences in DNA and cut them at a specific site. Once the strands are cut, they can be separated by gel electrophoresis. To begin the gel electrophoresis procedure, a purchased or manufactured gel is required. Agarose and polyacrylamide are the most commonly used types of gels. Polyacrylamide gels are generally used for proteins and for small DNA fragments. I will focus more on the agarose gel. Agarose ...... middle of paper ...... gel-electrophoresis/6530DNA Learning Center. Biology Animation Center: Gel Electrophoresis. Retrieved 12/21/2013 from Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, website: http://www.dnalc.org/resources/animations/gelelectrophoresis.htmlEspionage Information. Electrophoresis. Retrieved 12/21/2013 from Encyclopedia of Espionage, website: http://www.faqs.org/espionage/Ec-Ep/Electrophoresis.htmlLearn.Genetics. Virtual gel electrophoresis laboratory. Accessed December 21, 2013, from the University of Utah website: http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/labs/gel/Molecular Biology CyberLab. DNA gel electrophoresis. Accessed 12/21/2013 from the website: http://www.life.illinois.edu/molbio/geldigest/electro.htmlRosner D. (2004) How do genetic fingerprints work? Retrieved 12/21/2013 from The Naked Scientists, website: http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/articles/article/dalyacolumn8.htm/