This invention relates to an electrophoresis separation medium having a gel
matrix of at least one random, linear copolymer comprising a primary comonomer
and at least one secondary comonomer, wherein the comonomers are randomly distributed
along the copolymer chain. The primary comonomer is an acrylamide or an acrylamide
derivative that provides the primary physical, chemical, and sieving properties
of the gel matrix. The at least one secondary comonomer imparts an inherent physical,
chemical, or sieving property to the copolymer chain. The primary and secondary
comonomers are present in a ratio sufficient to induce desired properties that
optimize electrophoresis performance. The invention also relates to a method of
separating a mixture of biological molecules using this gel matrix, a method of
preparing the novel electrophoresis separation medium, and a capillary tube filled
with the electrophoresis separation medium.
