A laboratory technique that separates DNA, RNA, or proteins by size using an electric field applied to a gel matrix. Smaller molecules move faster through the gel, creating distinct bands that can be analyzed.
From 'gel' referring to the semi-solid matrix, 'electro-' from Greek meaning 'electric,' and 'phoresis' from Greek 'phorein' meaning 'to carry.' Developed in the 1960s, it revolutionized molecular biology by providing a simple way to separate and analyze biological molecules.
Gel electrophoresis is like a molecular obstacle course - DNA fragments race through a jello-like gel, with smaller pieces squeezing through faster than larger ones! It's so fundamental that virtually every DNA analysis, from crime scenes to medical diagnosis, uses this technique.
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