Question

Explain the differences between gel electrophoresis and column chromatography. Address the principles behind each separation. Why do large molecules migrate more easily in one method and with more difficulty in the other? Which method generated the most precise results?

Answer 1

Gel electrophoresis is a method is used for separation and analysis of macromolecules with high molecular weight such as DNA, RNA and proteins) and their fragments, based on their size and charge. It is used in clinical chemistry to separate proteins by charge and/or size and in biochemistry and molecular biology to separate a mixed population of DNAand RNA fragments by length, to estimate the size of DNA and RNA fragments or to separate proteins by charge. compare to column chromatography gel electrophoresis is higly sensitive and expansive techniques eventhough it can give accuratev values.

Column chromatography in chemistry is a method used to purify individual chemical compounds from mixtures of compounds. It is often used for preparative applications on scales from micrograms up to kilograms. The main advantage of column chromatography is the relatively low cost and disposability of the stationary phase used in the process. The latter prevents cross-contamination and stationary phase degradation due to recycling. however column chromatography is time taking process