Amgen Lab 1 Prelab Questions 1. Why are such small volumes of materials and solutions used in molecular biology?

They are very difficult and expensive to get, so we have to use small amounts. 2. Draw a flow chart for the steps for proper use of a micropipette (section 1.3).

3. Which direction does the knob at the top of the micropipette need to be turned to increase the volume it draws up? You need to turn it counter clockwise. 4. When is the micropipette pushed to the second stop? After dispensing the liquid. 5. What is the purpose of the first stop on the micropipette? It lets the liquid flow into the dispenser. Gel Electrophoresis 6. Describe how electrophoresis works. Through a gel, DNA is cut up and negatively charged. It then rushes towards the positive side of the gel. The smaller pieces go faster, letting them be arranged by size. 7. What physical property of the molecules being separated allows them to be separated in a gel? The size of the DNA pieces affects their speed in moving towards the positive side, separating them.