Medical expert of the article
New publications
Southern blotting
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
All iLive content is medically reviewed or fact checked to ensure as much factual accuracy as possible.
We have strict sourcing guidelines and only link to reputable media sites, academic research institutions and, whenever possible, medically peer reviewed studies. Note that the numbers in parentheses ([1], [2], etc.) are clickable links to these studies.
If you feel that any of our content is inaccurate, out-of-date, or otherwise questionable, please select it and press Ctrl + Enter.
Southern blotting (developed by E. Southern and R. Davies in 1975) is the main method by which genes of a particular disease are being identified. For this, DNA from the patient's cells is extracted and processed with one of the restriction endonucleases (or several). The resulting fragments are subjected to electrophoresis, which allows them to be sized in size (smaller fragments move faster through the pores of the gel). Then the fragments are transferred (reprinted) to a nitrocellulose filter, onto which the radiolabeled probe is layered. The probe binds only to the complementary sequence. Then, by the method of autoradiography, the position of the desired fragment of genomic DNA on the electrophoregram is determined.
Hybridization with a DNA probe labeled with DNA or RNA preparations applied dropwise onto a solid matrix without preliminary restriction and electrophoresis is called dot-slot hybridization, depending on the configuration of the DNA spot on the filter (round or oblong, respectively).
[