A spot on reputation; a stain; a disgrace; a reproach; a blemish.
a nitrocellulose (cotton-like polymer) sheet that contains spots of immobilized macromolecules (as of DNA, RNA, or protein) or their fragments and that is used to identify specific components of the spots by applying a suitable molecular probe (as a complementary nucleic acid or a radiolabeled antibody)
a blemish made by dirt; "he had a smudge on his cheek"
make a spot or mark onto; "The wine spotted the tablecloth"
1. As a verb, this means to transfer DNA, RNA or protein to an immobilizing matrix. 2. As a noun, it usually refers to the autoradiograph produced during the Southern or northern blotting procedures. The variations on this theme depend on the molecules:– Southern blot: the molecules transferred are DNA molecules, and the probe (q.v.) is DNA.– northern blot: the molecules transferred are RNA, and the probe is DNA. – western blot: the molecules transferred are protein, and the probe is labelled antibody. – Southwestern blot: the molecules transferred are protein, and the probe is DNA. – dot blot: DNA, RNA or protein are dotted directly onto the membrane support, so that they form discrete spots. – colony blot: the molecules (usually DNA) are from colonies of bacteria or yeast growing on a bacteriological plate. See DNA probes.
As a verb, to transfer DNA, RNA or protein to an immobilizing matrix. As a noun, the immobilizing matrix carrying DNA, RNA or protein. The various types of blot are named according to the probe and/or the probed molecules: Southern blot (DNA/DNA), northern blot (DNA/mRNA), western blot (antibody/protein), southwestern blot (DNA/protein). Only "Southern" is written with an initial capital, as it is named after Ed Southern, the inventor of the technique.
In molecular biology and genetics, a blot is a method of transferring proteins, DNA or RNA, onto a carrier (for example, a nitrocellulose PVDF or nylon membrane). In many instances, this is done after a gel electrophoresis, transferring the molecules from the gel onto the blotting membrane, and other times adding the samples directly onto the membrane.