How does capillary electrophoresis differ from agarose gel electrophoresis?

The correct answer highlights a fundamental difference between capillary electrophoresis and agarose gel electrophoresis regarding the use of stationary supports. In capillary electrophoresis, the process occurs within a thin capillary tube, where the sample is separated based on its charge-to-size ratio without the need for a gel matrix. This allows for the separation to take place in a more controlled environment, enabling higher resolution and faster analysis times.

The absence of a solid stationary support in capillary electrophoresis means that the electrophoretic process can be influenced more by the electric field and the properties of the sample than by the properties of a gel matrix. This also leads to the possibility of detecting smaller volumes of samples and provides a continuous flow of solutions through the capillary.

Other options point to characteristics of agarose gel electrophoresis or suggest conditions that do not accurately describe the differences between the methods, such as cost, gel thickness, or speed comparisons. Agarose gel electrophoresis relies on the use of a semi-solid matrix that acts as the stationary phase for the sample to migrate through, inherently leading to different operational dynamics and application contexts compared to capillary electrophoresis.