Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Classic Protocol
  • Published:

Southern blotting: Capillary transfer of DNA to membranes

Southern transfer and hybridization1 is used to study how genes are organized within genomes by mapping restriction sites in and around segments of genomic DNA. This protocol describes the first stages of Southern blotting: digestion of genomic DNA with restriction enzymes, separation of the resulting fragments by gel electrophoresis, and capillary transfer of the denatured fragments to a membrane2.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

References

  1. Southern, E.M. Detection of specific sequences among DNA fragments separated by gel electrophoresis. J. Mol. Biol. 98, 503–517 (1975).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Reed, K.C. & Mann, D.A. Rapid transfer of DNA from agarose gels to nylon membranes. Nucleic Acids Res. 13, 7207–7221 (1985).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Southern blotting: Capillary transfer of DNA to membranes. Nat Methods 1, 91–92 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1038/nmeth1004-91

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nmeth1004-91

Search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing