elektroforee

Elektroforee, also known as electrophoresis, is a laboratory technique used to separate molecules based on their size and charge. The process involves applying an electric field to a sample, causing the molecules to migrate through a medium, such as a gel or a solution. This technique is widely used in various fields of biology and chemistry, including genetics, biochemistry, and molecular biology.

The principle behind elektroforee is that molecules have different electrophoretic mobilities, which is their tendency to move in response to an electric field. This mobility depends on the molecule's size, shape, and charge. In a typical electrophoresis setup, the sample is loaded onto a gel or a membrane, and an electric current is applied. The molecules move through the medium at different rates, resulting in their separation.

There are several types of electrophoresis, including gel electrophoresis, capillary electrophoresis, and SDS-PAGE (sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis). Each type has its specific applications and advantages. For instance, gel electrophoresis is commonly used to separate DNA, RNA, and proteins, while capillary electrophoresis is often used for high-resolution separation of small molecules.

Elektroforee is a versatile and powerful tool in molecular biology. It allows researchers to analyze the composition of complex mixtures, determine the size of molecules, and study their interactions. Despite its simplicity, electrophoresis remains one of the most widely used techniques in biological research.