In the isolation of nucleic acids from blood samples,a step is typically performed to separate large molecules,such as proteins and nucleic acids,from smaller molecules such as salts.Which type of separation mechanism would best be suited for this task?

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Size-exclusion chromatography, also known as gel filtration chromatography, is a type of separation mechanism that separates molecules based on their size or molecular weight. This would be ideal for isolating nucleic acids from blood samples, as it would allow for the separation of larger molecules (e.g. nucleic acids and proteins) from smaller molecules such as salts. Ion exchange chromatography separates molecules based on their charge, affinity chromatography separates molecules based on their specific binding properties, and partition chromatography separates molecules based on their partition coefficient (distribution between two phases). While these mechanisms may be useful in certain contexts, they are not best suited for the specific task of isolating nucleic acids from blood samples.

In the Isolation of Nucleic Acids from Blood Samples,a Step