Electrophoresis

Advanced Preparation

  1. Allow 1 - 2 hours for preparation.
  2. Purchase 3 -4 gallons of distilled water to make the salt solution.
  3. The teacher may choose to allow students to make their own pH indicator by boiling red cabbage in a beaker until the water turns a deep purple color. The teacher may also complete this process before class time.

Introduction

The process of electrophoresis is an important tool for molecular geneticists in separating DNA, proteins, and other molecules. The purpose of this activity is to allow students to become familiar with the gel box and the power supply.

Student Objectives

Class Time Needed

If the students boil their own red cabbage, the activity will take 2 class periods. If the teacher boils the cabbage before the class, it will take 1 - 1 1/2 class periods.

Materials

  1. Power Supply
  2. Bottle for storing cabbage juice
  3. Gel box
  4. Beaker for boiling cabbage
  5. Red cabbage
  6. 0.1 g/liter NaCl

Recipes for Consumables Mix

0.1 g NaCl in 1 liter of distilled water.

Procedure

  1. For each team of 2 students the teacher will need 1 gel box, one bottle cabbage juice, and 300 ml of salt solution.
  2. For each pair of teams (4 students) the teacher will need 1 power supply.
  3. Lecture on electrophoresis prior to activity.