In standard serum protein electrophoresis, which protein travels farthest towards the anode?

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In standard serum protein electrophoresis, the protein that travels farthest towards the anode is albumin. This is primarily due to its high mobility in an electric field, which is influenced by both its size and its charge.

Albumin is the smallest and most negatively charged of the major serum proteins. During electrophoresis, the negatively charged proteins move towards the positively charged anode. Because albumin is also present in higher concentrations compared to many other serum proteins, it has a distinct and well-defined position as it migrates the fastest.

On the other hand, alpha1-globulins, alpha2-globulins, beta-globulins, and gamma-globulins are larger and possess different charges, which hinder their mobility compared to albumin. Consequently, they do not travel as far towards the anode during electrophoresis.

In summary, albumin's small size and negative charge allow it to migrate the farthest toward the anode, making it the correct answer to the question.

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