Final answer:
Agarose gel electrophoresis is indeed a partial purification technique as it separates DNA fragments based on size and shape, allowing for isolation and extraction of specific fragments.
Step-by-step explanation:
Agarose gel electrophoresis may be considered as a partial purification technique; this statement is true. The basis of this technique involves separating DNA fragments by their size and shape using an electric field. DNA molecules are negatively charged and are drawn towards a positive electrode, with smaller fragments migrating faster through the agarose matrix than larger ones. The separation of DNA based on size and/or shape allows for isolation of DNA fragments, effectively serving as a form of partial purification. In particular, after cutting with restriction endonucleases, supercoiled (uncut) and linearized (cut) DNA can be separated, with cut DNA moving slower in the gel compared to uncut DNA. Furthermore, specific bands can be excised and the separated DNA can be extracted for further use, further supporting the notion of gel electrophoresis as a partial purification technique.