Paper Chromatography and Its Use in the Laboratory

Paper Chromatography and Its Use in the Laboratory

Agarose is used in a variety of Life science programs however its primary use in the lab is for gel electrophoresis. Various kinds of proteins affix to the agarose that makes it very helpful for separation techniques in the lab. However, agarose using its neutral charge and reduced degree of chemical complexity make it a preferred chemical for use with nucleic acids also. Extracted from seaweed or kelp, Agarose goes through a manufacturing process before it may be utilized in the laboratory. Seaweed goes from a plant from the sea to a refined powder form which may be utilized in molecular biology labs in addition to other life science labs. It is remarkable how something as straightforward and abundant as seaweed is the vital component in a vital laboratory chemical. This simple component is arguably the most recognizable chemical in a molecular biology laboratory, with the only more popular alternative being water.

Agarose gel electrophoresis is probably the simplest and most frequent means of dividing DNA for analysis. Agarose with its neutral properties is ideal for this process since it pertains to the DNA which makes it feasible to find the arrangement of it in UV lights. Agarose comes in powder form usually however it turns into a gel when it is heated, thus the name of this procedure Agarose gel electrophoresis. Many agarose gels are somewhere between.7 percent and 2.0 percent depending on type of DNA fragments. The.7percent is used when large DNA fragments are required and the 2.0percent being used to reveal smaller DNA fragments.

Agarose is refined into a Powder format however that is not of any use in the lab by itself. So as to be used for math purposes it has to be blended with a buffer and made into a gel. Paper Chromatography in insoluble in room temperature water nevertheless it dissolves in boiling water. When the mixture starts to cool rather than the agarose coming from this solution and returning to its original powder condition it becomes a gel like material. It is when the material is in this state it is finally helpful to be utilized in an electrophoresis. Typically poured into a casting tray in this stage of this procedure the gel is ready to be used to separate DNA fragments. The chemical plays a vital role in DNA identification and separation; with no neutral attributes this procedure would not be possible.