Final answer:
Agarose gel electrophoresis separates DNA fragments by size using equipment such as a gel electrophoresis chamber, agarose, TAE buffer, micropipettes, a flask and microwave, a comb, ethidium bromide, and a gel documentation system.
Step-by-step explanation:
Agarose gel electrophoresis is a technique used to separate DNA fragments based on their size. The equipment needed includes:
- Gel electrophoresis chamber and power supply: For applying the electric field required to separate DNA fragments.
- Agarose: A polysaccharide that forms a gel matrix with variable pore sizes to separate fragments of different lengths.
- TAE buffer (Tris-acetate-EDTA): To maintain pH and ionic strength of the environment.
- Weight balance and micropipettes: To measure and transfer precise amounts of substances.
- Erlenmeyer flask and microwave: To dissolve and heat the agarose in the TAE buffer.
- Comb: To create wells in the gel for loading samples.
- Ethidium bromide (EtBr): To stain the DNA so it can be visualized under UV light (use with as it is a mutagen).
- Gel documentation system: To capture an image of the gel after electrophoresis.
These components are required to ensure that DNA fragments can be separated effectively and visualized for further analysis.