Practicing Success

Target Exam

CUET

Subject

Biology

Chapter

Biotechnology -Principles and Processes

Question:

Agarose, a gel used as matrix in gel electrophorises is a natural polymer which is extracted from:

Options:

Soya bean

Sea weeds

Sea anemone

Sea corals

Correct Answer:

Sea weeds

Explanation:

The correct answer is Option (2) - Sea weeds

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. The DNA fragments separate (resolve) according to their size through sieving effect provided by the agarose gel.