Question

How does vertical gel electrophoresis differ from horizontal gel electrophoresis? What is the purpose of each? Are the outcomes the same?

Answer 1

Horizontal gel electrophoresis:-

• Gel is present in horizontal orientation
• Gel is submerged ins continuous running buffer
• Uses the principle of separation of DNA ,RNA molecules according to molecular size and charge
• Acrylamide cannot be utilised
• Gel box is exposed to atmospheric oxygen
• Comparatively less complex

Vertical gel electrophoresis:-

• Gel is present in vertical orientation
• Gel is submerged in a discontinuous buffer
• Uses primary theory of gel electrophoresis
• Acrylamide can be utilised
• Gel box is not exposed to atmospheric oxygen
• More complex

Purpose:

• Horizontal method is more often used for the separation of DNA and RNA molecules but not proteins
• Vertical method is used for the separation of mixture of proteins

Outcomes of both these methods are same as both the methods are used for the separation of molecules