Electrophoresis: Basic principle, types, and applications

Electrophoresis refers to the separation of charged molecules based on their mobility in an electric field. This is a routinely used technique employed for various preparative and analytical purposes including separation, purification, and characterization of nucleic acids (DNA and RNA) and proteins. It is a simple, fast, and highly sensitive technique in which a mixture of charged molecules are allowed to migrate under the influence of an electric field towards the respective electrodes either freely or through a supportive medium such as gel with sieving property. While migrating, the separation of charged molecules from one another takes place depending upon the differences in their size, shape, and charge.