The following fragment analyses can be done using GelQuest:
Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism (AFLP)
A DNA fragment analysis technique where the complete genomic DNA is digested with ristriction
enzymes and a part of the generated fragments is amplified using polymerase chain reaction
(PCR).
Terminal Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (tRFLP)
Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (RFLP)
These techniques use DNA fragments of known length that are usually generated by PCR
amplification of a genomic region (e.g. a gene). Then the fragments are digested using restriction
enzymes. This will generate typical fragment patterns and allows for a discrimination of strains.
Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD)
Framents are generated from whole genomic DNA using primers with a length of about 10
nucleotides. These primers bind and amplify DNA regions that are complementary to them and
that are close enough to each other. Because the location of the priming sites is unknown the
priming is said to be "arbitrary".
Pulse Field Gel Electrophoresis (PFGE)
The pulse field gel electrophoresis is used to separate large size DNA fragments, e.g.
chromosomes. GelQuest can determine the size of fragments by comparing the fragments with a
co-migrating size standard.
Variable Number of Tandem Repeats (VNTR), Microsatellite Analysis
These techniques analyse the presence and length of short repeated nucleotide motifs (usually 2
to 3 bases in length). As these repetitive motifs are quite variable due to slippage effects during
DNA replication, they are useful for a comparison of closely related organisms, e.g. for paternity
tests.