NORTHERN BLOT Meaning and
Definition
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Northern blot is a laboratory technique used in molecular biology to analyze gene expression and measure the amount of specific RNA molecules present in a sample. It allows scientists to study the pattern and quantity of gene expression by detecting and analyzing RNA transcripts produced from specific genes.
In the process of performing a Northern blot, RNA molecules are first isolated from a sample of cells or tissue. These RNA molecules are then separated based on molecular weight using a gel electrophoresis technique. Consequently, the separated RNA molecules are transferred from the gel to a membrane through a process called "blotting." The membrane provides a stable and permanent support onto which the RNA molecules can be immobilized.
Subsequently, a labeled DNA probe is added to the membrane, which specifically binds to the complementary RNA sequences of interest. The labeled probe can be detected by various methods, including autoradiography or chemiluminescence, allowing visualization of the RNA molecules of interest on the membrane. The intensity of the detected signal corresponds to the amount of RNA present in the sample.
Northern blotting can provide valuable information about gene expression, including transcript size, alternative splicing variants, and tissue-specific expression patterns. This technique has been widely used in research areas such as genetics, cell biology, and development, aiding in the understanding of gene regulation, disease mechanisms, and cellular responses to different stimuli.
Common Misspellings for NORTHERN BLOT
- borthern blot
- morthern blot
- jorthern blot
- horthern blot
- nirthern blot
- nkrthern blot
- nlrthern blot
- nprthern blot
- n0rthern blot
- n9rthern blot
- noethern blot
- nodthern blot
- nofthern blot
- notthern blot
- no5thern blot
- no4thern blot
- norrhern blot
- norfhern blot
- norghern blot
- noryhern blot
Etymology of NORTHERN BLOT
The term "Northern Blot" comes from the technique known as "Southern Blot". The Southern Blot technique was named after its developer Edwin Southern, a British biologist, who introduced this method to detect specific DNA sequences in a complex mixture or DNA sample.
Later, when researchers were looking for a similar technique to detect specific RNA sequences, the term "Northern Blot" was coined as an analogy to the Southern Blot technique. The name "Northern Blot" was a play on words, with "Northern" representing the analysis of RNA (which is typically derived from the Northern Hemisphere) and "Blot" referring to the technique of transferring, or "blotting", the RNA molecules onto a membrane for detection.
So, essentially, the term "Northern Blot" was derived by analogy from the technique it was derived from and the direction of the molecule being analyzed.
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