In a gel what does a smaller DNA fragment generally do compared with a larger fragment?

Correct answer: Moves farther

The direct answer is option C: a smaller DNA fragment generally moves farther through a gel than a larger fragment. In gel electrophoresis, an electric field pulls negatively charged DNA through tiny spaces in the gel. The gel acts like a sieve. Small fragments pass through these spaces more easily and therefore travel a greater distance in the same time, while large fragments face more resistance. Option A is wrong because it describes the usual behavior of a larger fragment, not a smaller one. Option B is wrong because DNA fragments do not normally remain at exactly the loading position. Option C is correct because size-based separation makes smaller pieces migrate farther. Option D is wrong because DNA does not become protein during gel electrophoresis. Exam cue: in a DNA gel, farther usually means smaller, provided the conditions are the same.