On the limits of near‐equilibrium DNA gel electrophoretic sequencing

High field intensities deeply affect the migration mechanisms of DNA in gels. The corresponding large electric forces lead to far‐from‐equilibrium transport properties such as the limiting mobility, increased diffusion and strong pulsed field responses. We present a theoretical study of the conditions required to retain a near‐equilibrium reptation transport behaviour. We then examine the possibility of increasing both the field intensity and the gel concentration to sequence large single‐stranded DNA molecules rapidly and efficiently. Finally, we discuss possible experimental approaches based on our theoretical predictions.