Visualization of DNA molecules in time during electrophoresis

For several years individual DNA molecules have been observed and photographed during agarose gel electrophoresis. The DNA molecule is clearly the largest molecule known. Nevertheless, the largest molecule is still too small to be seen using a microscope. A technique developed by Morikawa and Yanagida has made it possible to visualize individual DNA molecules. When these long molecules are labeled with appropriate fluorescence dyes and observed under a fluorescence microscope, although it is not possible to directly visualize the local ultrastructure of the molecules, yet because they are long light emitting chains, their microscopic dynamical behavior can be observed. This visualization works in the same principle that enables one to observe a star through a telescope because it emits light against a dark background. The dynamics of individual DNA molecules migrating through agarose matrix during electrophoresis have been described by Smith et al. (1989), Schwartz and Koval (1989), and Bustamante et al. (1990). DNA molecules during agarose gel electrophoresis advance lengthwise thorough the gel in an extended configuration. They display an extension-contraction motion and tend to bunch up in their leading ends as the 'heads' find new pores through the gel. From time to time they get hooked on obstacles in the gel to form U-shaped configurations before they resume their linear configuration.