Southern Blot

The Southern Blot is a laboratory technique that is commonly used to detect specific DNA sequences of interest in a sample. It was developed in 1975 by Edward Southern, hence the name. The technique involves separating DNA fragments by size through gel electrophoresis and transferring them to a membrane such as nitrocellulose. The DNA is then hybridised to a labelled DNA probe specific to the sequence being looked for. This technique can be used in a variety of ways, such as to determine gene expression, uncover mutations, and for the chromosomal analysis of tumour cells. It has become an integral part of molecular biology and genetics research and is still commonly used in diagnostics and forensics.