This lab was meant to show students how gel electrophoresis is performed on DNA
samples. This process yields DNA fingerprints, which are used in paternity
testing and by police to help solve crimes. Dyes were used in this lab
instead of DNA because of cost and typically better results. Students observed a gel being
poured, and then they loaded the dyes into the gel. They observed the gel
during the hour it was running in the chamber and saw the dye particles move
down the gel. The gel was interpreted the next day and the mixture of dyes
was identified as which dyes composed it.