The biased reptation model of DNA gel electrophoresis: mobility vs molecular size and gel concentration.

The biased reptation model provides a good framework for interpreting the results of continuous field DNA electrophoresis experiments performed in agarose gels. Here we discuss the main features of the mobility-molecular size and mobility-gel concentration diagrams as obtained from new extensive computer simulations of the model. Our aim is to suggest a global and coherent picture of this widely used yet poorly understood experimental technique, and to point out the areas where a systematic experimental study is still needed.