A porous gel (usually made of agarose for DNA/RNA, or polyacrylamide for proteins) is cast with small indentations called "wells".Loading Samples: The gel is placed in a chamber and submerged in a conductive liquid buffer. The samples are pipetted directly into the wells.Applying the Current: The machine’s power supply connects to electrodes at opposite ends of the chamber. Because molecules like DNA and RNA are negatively charged, they are repelled by the negative electrode (cathode) and migrate toward the positive electrode (anode).Sieving Effect: The gel acts as a microscopic maze. Smaller molecules weave through the pores quickly and travel further, while larger molecules move sluggishly and stay closer to the wells.