Which medium can largely replace CAM as a support for free electrophoresis?

The correct answer is agarose gel electrophoresis. Agarose gel serves as an effective medium for free electrophoresis due to its favorable properties, such as high porosity and the ability to separate nucleic acids and proteins based on size. The matrix of agarose creates a supportive framework that allows molecules to move through the gel when an electric field is applied, enabling the separation of macromolecules.

Other mediums like polyacrylamide gel are also commonly used, particularly for proteins and smaller nucleic acids, but agarose gel is specifically favorable in many cases where a less complex matrix is required and is often utilized in laboratories for separating larger DNA fragments. Cellulose acetate, while a historical method for electrophoresis, has some limitations in terms of resolution and may not be as versatile as agarose. Silica gel is typically used for planar chromatography rather than electrophoresis, making it less relevant in this context.