ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Free-flow electrophoresis

Alright kiddo, let's learn about free-flow electrophoresis!

You know how when you're playing in the park, sometimes you try to run faster than your friends? Well, molecules in our body do the same thing! They move around and try to get to where they need to go.

Electrophoresis is like a race for molecules. Imagine a track where different sized molecules are going to compete. The smaller ones will move faster and the bigger ones will move slower. Electrophoresis uses electricity to speed up the race and make the molecules move faster.

Now let's talk about free-flow electrophoresis. This is like a fast lane on the track! Instead of running on a traditional track, the molecules move through a special tube. In this tube, there is an electric field that pulls them along. You can imagine it like getting on a water slide. Once you start sliding, you can't stop until you reach the bottom.

The free-flow electrophoresis tube also has a special filter-like material that catches the different sized molecules as they race through. This allows scientists to separate and purify the molecules they need for their experiments.

So, free-flow electrophoresis is like a fun water slide where molecules race each other and are separated based on their size. It helps scientists get the molecules they need for their experiments faster and easier. Cool, right?