1. In gel electrophoresis, DNA strands are sorted based on their size and charge. The gel matrix creates a barrier that impedes the movement of larger molecules, allowing smaller molecules to move faster and migrate farther from the starting point. The electric field applied to the gel causes the negatively charged DNA strands to move towards the positive electrode.
2. The fact that the DNA strands move towards the positive charge indicates that the strands themselves are negatively charged. The negatively charged DNA molecules are attracted to the positive electrode, allowing them to be sorted based on their size and charge during gel electrophoresis.
3. Gel electrophoresis involves placing the DNA mixture in a well at one end of a porous gel matrix and applying an electric field to the gel. The negatively charged DNA molecules move towards the positive electrode, with smaller fragments moving farther than larger fragments. As the DNA fragments move through the gel, they become sorted according to their size, with smaller fragments migrating farther from the starting point than larger fragments.
4. "Agarose chase" or simply "gel" are common slang terms used by scientists to refer to gel electrophoresis.
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