electrophoresisn.
/ᵻˌlɛktrə(ʊ)fəˈriːsɪs/, U.S. /əˌlɛktrəfəˈrisᵻs/, /əˌlɛktroʊfəˈrisᵻs/, /iˌlɛktrəfəˈrisᵻs/, /iˌlɛktroʊfəˈrisᵻs/ Chiefly Biochemistry.
The migration of charged colloidal particles, in differing directions and at differing rates, in a liquid or gel under the influence of an electric field; a technique for the separation or analysis of macromolecular substances such as proteins and DNA by means of this effect. Cf. cataphoresis n. 2, iontophoresis n.Frequently with distinguishing word indicating the medium on which the technique is carried out; gel electrophoresis, paper electrophoresis: see the first element.
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electrophoresis1911
cataphoresis1944
1911 Chem. Abstr. 5 641 Electrophoresis of lampblack.
1934 A. W. Thomas Colloid Chem. vi. 105 All of the colloidal gold particles upon electrophoresis migrated to the anode.
1960 S. Lewin in C. R. Austin Sex Differentiation & Devel. 103 Unlike ordinary colloidal electrophoreses, which contain a very low electrolyte concentration, the sperms are suspended in buffer solutions.
1991 P. Lovesey Last Detective (2004) vi. ii. 336 Restriction enzymes are used to chop the strands into unequal pieces which are sorted on a piece of gelatine by a process known as electrophoresis.
2001 L. W. Freeman in L. W. Freeman & G. F. Lawlis Mosby's Complementary Alternative Med. ii. 56 Zone electrophoresis is a semiquantitative technique that is useful for assessing total protein status and for identifying immunoglobulins.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2008; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1911