Which process does affinity chromatography utilize?

Affinity chromatography relies on specific interactions between molecules to achieve its separation. This technique is designed to isolate particular biomolecules, such as proteins or DNA, based on their unique binding affinities to specific ligands that are attached to a stationary phase within the chromatography column.

In this process, the target molecule in the sample is drawn to the ligand, while other non-target molecules pass through without interacting. After the target molecules are bound to the stationary phase, they can be eluted (washed off) by introducing a solution that disrupts this interaction, allowing the targeted molecules to be collected for further analysis or purification. This method is particularly powerful due to its high specificity, enabling the selection of target molecules in complex mixtures, making it a vital tool in biochemical and molecular biology research.