See also: BLOOD; DNA; GENETIC TESTING; HUMAN LEUKOCYTE ANTIGEN TESTING

Electrophoresis is a laboratory process commonly used for studying genetic material, such as blood proteins or DNA fragmentts. The genetic material is injected into a gel and a direct electrical current is applied to the gel. The current causes the proteins or DNA fragments to migrate to the opposite side. The smaller fragments travel faster than the larger fragments, causing the material to separate into bands sometimes referred to as "marker bands."  When the current is turned off, the bands are analyzed to determine the genetic content of the material.  This is done by measuring the distance between each band and the point of common origin.  These distances allow one to identify the particular protein or DNA fragment at isue by comparing the distances to known standards.

The most common application of electrophoresis in the legal context is as a means of comparing blood samples.  See BLOOD § 1(b).  Electrophoresis.  It has also been used, however, to study enzymes in corn for the study of the corn’s genetic makeup.  Expert testimony based on electrophoretic study of seed corn has been held admissible scientific evidence.{footnote}Prioneer Hi-Bred International v. Holden Foundation Seeds, Inc., 35 F.3d 1226, 1230 (8th Cir. 1994).{/footnote}