Final answer:
Restriction fragments of DNA are separated by gel electrophoresis, which uses an electric field within a gel to separate DNA fragments based on size, visualized using a fluorescent dye for analysis.
Step-by-step explanation:
Restriction fragments of DNA are typically separated by the process of gel electrophoresis.
Gel electrophoresis is an analytical technique used to separate DNA fragments by size. DNA molecules, which are negatively charged due to the phosphate groups in their backbone, are subjected to an electric field within a gel made of agarose or polyacrylamide. The negatively charged DNA moves towards the positive pole, and since larger fragments move more slowly than smaller ones, this process effectively separates the fragments according to size. After running the gel, the separated DNA fragments can be visualized using a fluorescent dye, revealing distinct bands that correspond to different fragment lengths. This technique is fundamental in genetic analysis, diagnostic procedures, and biological research, providing a way to analyze the genetic material extracted from samples for various applications, including restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis.