NORTHERN BLOTS Meaning and
Definition
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Northern Blots is a laboratory technique used to analyze and detect specific RNA molecules within a biological sample. It is a variation of the traditional Southern Blot technique that is specifically designed for RNA analysis. Northern Blots are widely employed in molecular biology studies to investigate gene expression patterns, study the levels of mRNA (messenger RNA) or non-coding RNA, and examine the size and abundance of RNA molecules.
The process starts by separating the RNA molecules present in the sample using gel electrophoresis. Once the RNA is separated, it is transferred from the gel onto a solid support, typically a nylon membrane, through a process called blotting. The RNA molecules retain their original position from the gel onto the membrane, creating a complementary map of the sample.
The transferred RNA on the membrane is then probed with a labeled RNA or DNA probe that complements the specific RNA sequence of interest. This probe selectively binds to the target RNA, forming a hybridization complex. The presence of the hybridization complex is detected through various methods such as autoradiography or fluorescence, depending on the type of labeling used.
By analyzing the resulting pattern of hybridization complexes, researchers can determine the presence, size, and abundance of the RNA molecules they are interested in studying. The intensity of the signal obtained from the blot can provide information about the relative levels of RNA expression in different samples.
Northern Blots have proven to be essential tools in molecular biology and have greatly contributed to our understanding of gene expression and regulation.
Common Misspellings for NORTHERN BLOTS
- borthern blots
- morthern blots
- jorthern blots
- horthern blots
- nirthern blots
- nkrthern blots
- nlrthern blots
- nprthern blots
- n0rthern blots
- n9rthern blots
- noethern blots
- nodthern blots
- nofthern blots
- notthern blots
- no5thern blots
- no4thern blots
- norrhern blots
- norfhern blots
- norghern blots
- noryhern blots
Etymology of NORTHERN BLOTS
The term "Northern Blot" is derived from its similarity to the Southern Blot technique, which was developed by Edwin Southern in 1975. In the Southern Blot, DNA fragments are transferred from a gel to a solid support (usually a nitrocellulose or nylon membrane) and then hybridized with labeled DNA probes to detect specific DNA sequences.
The Northern Blot technique was developed as an analogous method to analyze RNA molecules instead of DNA. It was first described by James Alwine, David Kemp, and George Stark in 1977. In this method, RNA molecules from a sample are separated by electrophoresis on a gel, transferred to a membrane, and then hybridized with specific labeled DNA probes. The purpose is to identify and measure the presence and quantity of specific RNA molecules in a sample.
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