Principles of Forensic DNA
for Officers of the Court
Principles of Forensic DNA for Officers of the Court
Previous PageNext Page

Module 4 :: Intro To the Lab

Topic 2 :: Laboratory Processes Used in Forensic DNA Analysis

DNA Separation

For genotyping to occur, the extracted and now amplified DNA must be separated so that alleles can be differentiated from each other. There are two primary methods used for DNA separation: slab gel electrophoresis and capillary electrophoresis (CE) These techniques produce identical results in a variety of visual formats.


The electrophoresis process uses an electric field to separate negatively charged DNA based upon the size of the amplified fragments.

Image of the Seal of the President of the United States & Seal of the Department of Justice