An agarose gel is a method for separating DNA fragments. Agarose is a long polysaccaride that when cooled below 40 °C will form a gel. This gel has a range of pore sizes that is dependent upon the concentration of agarose in the solution. If DNA is placed in an agarose gel and subjected to an electric field, it will migrate toward the positive electrode. Its rate of migration is inversely proportional to its molecular weight. Thus DNA fragments of different sizes can be resolved, with small fragments running further than large fragments.
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