Biology Question

Question

9. You have molecule A with a molecular weight of 40000daltons. You have molecule B with a molecular weight of 80000 Daltons. You put them through a size exclusion chromatography column that has an exclusion limit of 10000 daltons. Will this column do a good separating the two molecules? Please explain.

Answer 1

Hi Ariel! The exclusion limit of a chromatography column represents the largest size that can fit into the tunnels. Since both of the molecules are larger than the limit in this case, this column wouldn't do a good job, because neither molecule can even fit into the tunnels, and would pass straight through the gel! Let me know if you need any other help!