Modeling and Experimental Validation of DNA Motion in Uniform and Nonuniform DC Electric Fields

Abstract

We are developing a new technique to insert foreign DNA into a living cell using a microelectromechanical system. This new technique relies on electrical forces to move DNA in a nonuniform electric field. To better understand this phenomenon, we perform integrated modeling and experiments of DNA electrophoresis. This paper describes the protocol and presents the results for DNA motion experiments using fabricated gel electrophoresis devices. We show that DNA motion is strongly correlated with ion transport (current flow) in the system. A better understanding of electrophoretic fundamentals allows for the creation of a mathematical model to predict the motion of DNA during electrophoresis in both uniform and nonuniform electric fields. The mathematical model is validated within 4% through comparison with the experimental results.