Final answer:
In gel electrophoresis, DNA fragments are separated based on size, with smaller fragments moving faster and farther towards the positive electrode, while larger fragments remain closer to the well where they were loaded.
Step-by-step explanation:
DNA fragments move faster through a gel polymer than larger DNA fragments and will be located closer to the bottom of the gel. This phenomenon is due to gel electrophoresis, a technique used to separate DNA fragments of different sizes. In gel electrophoresis, smaller DNA molecules can travel faster through the gel because the gel’s matrix impedes the movement of larger molecules, creating a negative correlation between the size of the DNA fragment and the distance traveled.
During electrophoresis, DNA is loaded at the top of the gel and is drawn towards the positive electrode because DNA fragments have a negative charge. Consequently, the fragments separate based on size, with the smaller DNA fragments moving farthest from the well (where the DNA was loaded), while larger fragments stay closer to the well.