Which method is used for analysis of PCR products?

Which method is used for analysis of PCR products?

• A. Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry
• B. Oligoclonal bands in CSF
• C. Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC)
• D. Capillary Electrophoresis (CE)

Answer: (D)

Analyzing PCR products relies on separating DNA fragments by size with high resolution, and capillary electrophoresis provides that capability. In this method, fluorescently labeled PCR fragments are injected into a tiny capillary filled with a polymer. When an electric field is applied, fragments migrate at rates inversely related to their length, so even small size differences show up as distinct peaks. A detector reads the fluorescence as fragments pass a fixed point, producing an electropherogram where the position (size) and height (amount) of each peak tell you exactly what fragments were amplified and in what quantity. This makes capillary electrophoresis ideal for precise sizing, multiplex analyses, and fragments that differ by only a few base pairs. The other options aren’t used for this purpose: Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry is for separating and identifying small molecules, not analyzing DNA fragment sizes; oligoclonal bands in CSF are an immunological test related to intrathecal antibody production; thin-layer chromatography separates chemicals on a surface. Capillary electrophoresis uniquely offers rapid, automated, high-resolution sizing of PCR products, which is why it’s the method of choice.

Analyzing PCR products relies on separating DNA fragments by size with high resolution, and capillary electrophoresis provides that capability. In this method, fluorescently labeled PCR fragments are injected into a tiny capillary filled with a polymer. When an electric field is applied, fragments migrate at rates inversely related to their length, so even small size differences show up as distinct peaks. A detector reads the fluorescence as fragments pass a fixed point, producing an electropherogram where the position (size) and height (amount) of each peak tell you exactly what fragments were amplified and in what quantity. This makes capillary electrophoresis ideal for precise sizing, multiplex analyses, and fragments that differ by only a few base pairs.

The other options aren’t used for this purpose: Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry is for separating and identifying small molecules, not analyzing DNA fragment sizes; oligoclonal bands in CSF are an immunological test related to intrathecal antibody production; thin-layer chromatography separates chemicals on a surface. Capillary electrophoresis uniquely offers rapid, automated, high-resolution sizing of PCR products, which is why it’s the method of choice.