DNA electropherises

Essay by snapper1High School, 10th gradeA+, February 1997

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DNA electrophoreses is a process in which a DNA strand is cut by a restriction enzyme at a certain point so it can be measured and compared with other DNA. The purpose of the lab was to determine the father of a child by comparing the child's DNA with that of the mother and two possible fathers. The child's DNA fits a combination of the real father and mother.

Electrophoresis begins with the pouring of the gel. The gel is an auger poured into a water bath. Combs are then placed in the forming gel to produce wells where the samples are then placed. The gel is placed in the electrophoresis apparatus and loaded with the samples. The different samples are loaded into the wells formed in the gel. The DNA samples are loaded using a measuring instrument called a micropipeter. There is then an electric current passed through the gel to separate the DNA fragments.

The current separates the DNA segments by moving the smaller ones farther than the large ones. Every DNA sample separates differently. This way they can be compared with others. It is highly unlikely that two samples will have the same results.

Leukemia

Leukemia strikes all ages and both sexes. In 1995 approximately 20,400 people died from Leukemia. The all time five year survival rate is 38%. This rate has gone to 52% in the mid 1980's. Approximately 25,700 cases were reported in 1995 alone(American Cancer Society-leukemia, 1995).

Leukemia is a form of cancer in the blood cells. Most forms of Leukemia occur in the white blood cells. These abnormal cells reproduce in large quantities and look and perform differently than normal cells(MedicineNet-leukemia, 1997).

Right now the causes of Leukemia are unknown. Some studies have shown that exposure to high-energy radiation increases chances...