Agarose, a gel used as matrix in gel electrophoresis is a natural polymer which is extracted from:
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → Sea weeds
Option (2) Sea weeds — Correct. Agarose, the matrix most used in gel electrophoresis, is a natural polymer extracted from sea weeds. Its sieving effect separates the DNA fragments by size.
Note: A similar question was also asked in CUET (UG) 2025 on 28-05-2025 (Slot 1).
NCERT Extract:
Restriction Enzymes – “… Separation and isolation of DNA fragments : The cutting of DNA by restriction endonucleases results in the fragments of DNA. These fragments can be separated by a technique known as gel electrophoresis. Since DNA fragments are negatively charged molecules they can be separated by forcing them to move towards the anode under an electric field through a medium/matrix. Nowadays the most commonly used matrix is agarose which is a natural polymer extracted from sea weeds.”