Experiment II: DNA will travel in the gel towards the _._. charge. negative neutral positive

DNA will travel in the gel towards the positive charge because DNA is negatively charged due to its phosphate backbone. When an electric current is applied during gel electrophoresis, the negatively charged DNA molecules move toward the positively charged pole. This movement allows us to separate DNA fragments based on size as shorter strands migrate faster through the gel matrix! In real-world applications, this principle is essential for forensic science, genetic engineering, and medical diagnostics. For instance, DNA fingerprinting utilizes this technique to identify individuals based on unique patterns in their DNA, which can assist in criminal investigations or paternity testing. It’s fascinating how a simple experiment can have such significant implications in real life!