Single molecule analysis of DNA electrophoresis in microdevices

Given that current electrophoresis technology is inadequate for mapping large O[100 kilobasepair] DNA, several promising lab-on-chip designs for DNA mapping have been recently proposed that require either 1) a DNA molecule negotiating an obstacle course in a microchannel or 2) stretching a DNA molecule for linear analysis. The goal of this research is to experimentally probe the fundamental physics that underlie these DNA mapping designs. Furthermore, we present a continuous stretching process that offers significant improvement over results in literature. In general, the governing physics is complex due to the confinement of the microchannel, the coiled-nature of long DNA molecules, and the induced electric field gradients from obstacles and changes in channel dimensions. Using single DNA fluorescence microscopy, we have investigated many of the governing physical mechanisms at play in these gene mapping microfluidic devices. For example, we have determined transport coefficients for DNA in a confined channel and performed an analysis of hydrodynamic background flows in these thin channels. We have also performed a systematic study of the impact and unhooking dynamics of a DNA molecule driven into a small stationary post.

Department dc:contributor.department

Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Chemical Engineering.

Grantor dc:publisher

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Year dc:date.issued

2006

Author dc:creator

• Randall, Greg C

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Patrick S. Doyle.

• Chemical Engineering.

Statement dc:rights

• M.I.T. theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission.

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/34162
• http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Identifier URI

http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/34162

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/34162