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Biomedical Basics

Northern and southern blotting for RNA/DNA detection

  • Created by Henry Stewart Talks
Published on November 30, 2025   4 min

A selection of talks on Haematology

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This overview addresses northern and southern blotting for RNA/DNA detection with particular emphasis on the principles and workflows of northern and southern blotting two key techniques for detecting specific nucleic acid molecules. We will discuss how southern blotting identifies DNA fragments and reveals genomic structure while northern blotting focuses on RNA to study gene expression. The lecture will cover sample preparation, gel electrophoresis, membrane transfer, and probe based detection methods. Finally, we will highlight important applications of both techniques and their ongoing relevance in molecular biology research. We will explore northern and southern blotting, two foundational techniques for detecting nucleic acids. Blotting is used to identify specific DNA or RNA molecules from complex mixtures, which is crucial for understanding gene structure and regulation. Southern blotting detects DNA revealing genomic structure and mutations while northern blotting analyses RNA providing insight into gene expression and transcript processing. Southern and northern blotting share a common workflow but differ in the type of nucleic acid analyzed. Southern blotting developed by Edwin Southern detects DNA fragments. After extraction, DNA is digested with restriction enzymes to create manageable fragments. In contrast, northern blotting is used for RNA requiring careful handling to prevent degradation and often uses denaturing agents to keep RNA single stranded.

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Northern and southern blotting for RNA/DNA detection

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