Electrophoresis is a technique used to separate charged particles such as proteins, nucleic acids, and other molecules using an electric field. It was first observed in 1807 and involves applying an electric field to cause charged particles in solution to migrate toward the electrode of opposite charge. There are several types of electrophoresis including paper, gel, and capillary electrophoresis. Electrophoresis is widely used in forensic science applications such as DNA fingerprinting to identify suspects by comparing DNA profiles.