DNA Electrophoresis

Electrophoretic techniques have come a long way since their discovery and show continuous potential for advancement. The basic principle of the technique is the separation of either DNA, RNA, or proteins based upon their charge and size. Concerning DNA electrophoresis, numerous techniques are currently available for one to choose from based on the size and type of the DNA sample to be separated. Today’s techniques not only offer separation, but also aid in identification of the DNA sequences, thereby reducing the time required for analysis. Due to electrophoresis being a very versatile technique, it has applications not only in the field of research, but also in various allied fields such as clinical studies, biological, pathological and toxicological laboratories, genotoxicity studies, food safety surveillance, ecological studies, phylogenetic studies, infection control and outbreak investigations as well as forensic investigations to name a few. Conscious and continuous efforts are being put in improving the existing methods by reducing the time required for analysis, making them compact for field work and creating more economical and eco-friendly protocols that can create a sustainable future with minimal waste of the reagents.