How would you estimate the size of the unknown DNA fragment just by looking at the gel?

A single DNA fragment (or even a small group of DNA fragments) would not be visible by itself on a gel. By comparing the bands in a sample to the DNA ladder, we can determine their approximate sizes. For instance, the bright band on the gel above is roughly 700 base pairs (bp) in size.

How can you estimate the sizes molecular weight of these DNA fragments?

The molecular weight or molar mass of any double-stranded DNA fragment can therefore be calculated by multiplying its length (in bp) by 650 and the answer will be expressed as daltons or g/mol.

How does the size of a DNA fragment determine its speed of travel?

In agarose, the migration rate of fragments of DNA is inversely proportional to their size: the smaller the DNA molecule, the faster it migrates through the gel. Smaller molecules (with less molecular weight) move through pores more easily than larger molecules.

What is bp in gel electrophoresis?

The term ‘bp’ in gel electrophoresis stands for base pair. Base pairs refer to a set of complementary nucleotides in DNA.

How do you convert BP to KDA?

To get approximate meaning you’ll need to remember, that every base pair weights approximately 660 Da. So, if you multiply 5.7 thousands base pairs on 660 Da, you’ll get the approximate answer, that is applicable in most cases. This will give you the weight of a SINGLE DNA molecule of a specific size.

What is the relationship between the size of the DNA fragments and the distance they traveled?

What is the relationship between the DNA fragment length and the distance it traveled in the gel? An inverse relationship. The longer the fragment, the less distance traveled.

How do you calculate band size in gel electrophoresis?

Measure the distance on your picture from the wells to each of the bands in the “ladder,” then divide that distance by the distance traveled by the tracking dye band. This calculation gives you the relative mobility of each band.