GEL CHROMATOGRAPHY Meaning and
Definition
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Gel chromatography, also known as size exclusion chromatography (SEC), is a liquid chromatography technique used for separating and analyzing different sized molecules based on their molecular weight and size. It employs a porous gel column, usually composed of crosslinked agarose or polyacrylamide beads, with different pore sizes.
The process of gel chromatography involves the sample to be injected into the gel column, followed by the mobile phase (eluent) passing through the gel bed. The larger molecules are unable to penetrate the pores of the gel beads and hence elute first, while the smaller molecules can enter the pores and migrate slower, eluting later. This mechanism enables the separation of molecules based on their size, with larger ones moving through the column faster, and smaller ones getting trapped within the pores.
Gel chromatography finds extensive applications in several fields, including biochemistry, pharmaceuticals, and biotechnology. It is commonly used for the purification, fractionation, and analysis of proteins, nucleic acids, polysaccharides, and other macromolecules. This technique is highly versatile and provides reliable results, with gentle separation conditions that preserve the biological activity of the target molecules.
The main advantages of gel chromatography are its ease of use, high reproducibility, and ability to separate a wide range of molecular weights. Furthermore, gel chromatography can be used in a preparative mode to isolate specific fractions for further analysis or downstream applications. Overall, it is a valuable tool in molecular biology and related disciplines for the separation and characterization of biomolecules.
Common Misspellings for GEL CHROMATOGRAPHY
- fel chromatography
- vel chromatography
- bel chromatography
- hel chromatography
- yel chromatography
- tel chromatography
- gwl chromatography
- gsl chromatography
- gdl chromatography
- grl chromatography
- g4l chromatography
- g3l chromatography
- gek chromatography
- gep chromatography
- geo chromatography
- gel xhromatography
- gel vhromatography
- gel fhromatography
- gel dhromatography
- gel cgromatography
Etymology of GEL CHROMATOGRAPHY
The word "gel chromatography" is derived from two different terms: "gel" and "chromatography".
1. Gel: The term "gel" refers to a semi-solid substance that consists of a continuous liquid phase that is immobilized within a three-dimensional network of solid particles or polymers. It comes from the Late Latin word "gelum", meaning "frost" or "icy cold".
2. Chromatography: This word is composed of two Greek roots: "chroma", meaning "color", and "graphein", meaning "to write" or "to draw". Chromatography is a laboratory technique used to separate and analyze mixtures by distributing their components between two phases: a mobile phase (liquid or gas) and a stationary phase (solid or liquid adsorbent). The separation occurs as the different components move at different rates due to their interaction with both phases.
