Figure 3. RNA analysis by agarose gel electrophoresis. The 28S and 18S rRNA bands are indicated. Lanes 1 and 2 are examples of intact RNA with a 28S:18S rRNA ratio of approximately 2:1. Lane 3 is an example of degraded RNA with RNA smearing below the 28S and 18S rRNA bands. Lane 4 is an example of RNA degradation resulting in the loss of the 28S rRNA band and an accumulation of degraded RNA near the bottom of the gel. Lane 5 is an example of RNA with significant genomic DNA (gDNA) contamination.