Electrophoresis is a method used to separate charged molecules like proteins and nucleic acids in solution based on their movement in response to an electrical field. Key factors that determine a molecule's rate of migration include the strength of the electrical field, the molecule's net charge, size, and shape. Electrophoresis can be performed in gels like agarose or polyacrylamide to inhibit diffusion and allow separation and detection of molecules. Sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) is commonly used to separate proteins by molecular weight. Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis further separates proteins based on isoelectric point and molecular weight.