METHODS FOR PULSED-FIELD GEL-ELECTROPHORESIS

The term pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) is used as an acronym to indicate any technique that resolves (large) DNA molecules by cont inuous reorientation. It bridges the resolution gap between cytogeneti c methods (> 5 Mb) and DNA analysis (< 50 kb). Initially, PFGE was use d to study the chromosomal content of unicellular eukaryotic organisms of interest to genetic research and population health. Later, PFGE wa s used to construct megabase maps of segments of the human genome. Suc cessfull utilization of PFGE requires the availability of very high-mo lecular weight DNA. This article describes the modification of standar d DNA protocols necessary to handle large DNA molecules, based on its encapsidation in agarose.