Elektroforeesierottelu

Elektroforeesierottelu, also known as electrophoretic separation, is a laboratory technique used to separate molecules based on their size, charge, or conformation. It is widely used in biochemistry, molecular biology, and clinical chemistry for the analysis of proteins, nucleic acids, and other biomolecules. The process involves the application of an electric field to a mixture of molecules in a gel or free solution. The molecules migrate through the medium at a rate determined by their charge-to-size ratio, with smaller or more highly charged molecules moving faster than larger or less charged ones. This separation allows for the identification and quantification of individual components in a complex mixture.

The technique was first described by Arne Tiselius in the 1930s, for which he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1948. Elektroforeesierottelu has since been refined and adapted for various applications, including sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) for protein separation and agarose gel electrophoresis for DNA analysis. The method is valued for its simplicity, speed, and high resolution, making it an essential tool in modern biological research and diagnostics.