What is elution?

The separated bands of DNA are cut out from the agarose gel and extracted from the gel piece.

Elution is the process of extracting a substance, such as DNA, from a gel matrix. In the context of gel electrophoresis, elution refers to the step where the separated bands of DNA are cut out from the agarose gel and the DNA is then extracted from the gel piece.

After gel electrophoresis, the DNA fragments are separated based on their size and charge. Once the gel electrophoresis is completed, the gel is stained with a fluorescent dye, such as ethidium bromide, to visualize the DNA bands. The bands of interest, representing specific DNA fragments, can be seen as bright orange colored bands under UV light.

To obtain the DNA fragments for further analysis or use in downstream applications, the bands of interest are carefully cut out from the gel using a sharp instrument. The gel piece containing the DNA bands is then subjected to a process called elution, where the DNA is extracted from the gel. Elution typically involves using a buffer or solution that helps to release the DNA from the gel matrix.

Once the DNA is eluted, it can be purified further if needed or used directly for various applications in molecular biology, genetic engineering, and biotechnology.