DNA　molecules　are　usually　separated　by　gel　electrophoresis.　While　gels　help　resolve　DNA,　the　polymers　bring　problems　to　the　analysis　(e.g.,　difficulty　in　automating　and　poor　reproducibility).　One　way　to　eliminate　these　problems　completely　is　to　separate　DNA　in　free　solutions.　However,　DNA　fragments　cannot　normally　be　resolved　in　a　free　solution　by　electrophoresis　because　the　electrophoretic　mobilities　of　these　molecules　have　similar　charge-to-mass　ratios,　especially　when　the　fragments　are　large.　Efforts　have　been　invested　in　free-solution　DNA　separations　and　a　number　of　approaches　(e.g.,　high-performance　liquid　chromatography,　end-labeled　free-solution　electrophoresis,　entropic　traps,　and　DNA　prism)　have　been　successfully　developed.　Very　recently,　a　new　technique,　called　bare　narrow　capillary-open　tubular　chromatography　(BaNC-OTC),　was　developed　and　can　resolve　a　wide　range　of　sizes　of　DNA　in　a　few　minutes.　In　this　article,　we　review　the　significant　progress　on　free-solution　DNA　separations,　with　emphasis　on　the　most　recent,　advanced　developments.　(C)　2012　Elsevier　Ltd.　All　rights　reserved.