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DNA Hybridization Analysis (S4)

The revolution brought about by molecular biology depended heavily on nucleic acid hybridization procedures. These techniques are used extensively in the research laboratory for detecting specific nucleotide sequences in DNA and RNA and are increasingly being applied in medicine for diagnosing disease. Modern Biology Inc. is proud to introduce these methods into your teaching laboratory. In this laboratory program, students use hybridization procedures to investigate key topics in contemporary biology including the evolution of the vertebrate genome, the complexity of the viral chromosome, and the analysis of a specific nucleotide sequence in mammalian DNA. The package comes complete with all of the biochemicals that you will need although a water bath incubator that will maintain a temperature of 60-65°C is required for these experiments. The procedures used in these exercises are safe for your students because the four hybridization probes provided with the chemical package were prepared using a nonradioactive labeling system.

Individual Experiments

Each of the individual experiments is supplied with the chemicals and laboratory guides needed for 16 students working in pairs. (Please click here for additional details.) If you chose one or more of the experiments below, you should also order Electrophoresis Package 3/4. Electrophoresis Package 3/4 provides sufficient agarose, gel stain and electrophoresis buffers for up to 6 of the individual experiments in this series. Note that Electrophoresis Package 3/4 is also suitable for the experiments in Standard Programs 3 and 10.

EXP-401 401. Evolution of the Vertebrate Genome (View Individual Experiment)

The history of evolution is recorded in the genomes of present-day organisms and enlightened guesses of evolutionary events can be made by comparing DNA sequences in different species. Evidence drawn from this approach has led to the construction of family trees of organisms that agree remarkably well with those obtained from more traditional procedures. In fact, on a number of occasions, comparative DNA sequence analysis has been used to clarify and expand on phylogenetic relationships that were derived from classical studies.

EXP-402 402. Application of the Southern Blot Procedure (View Individual Experiment)

In l975, Edward M. Southern at the University of Edinburgh, developed a powerful technique for DNA analysis which has become known as Southern blotting. Here your students use the Southern blotting procedure to identify the major control region for transcription and replication in the lambda phage genome. Following the step-by-step procedures in their manuals, students digest lambda DNA with a restriction endonuclease, electrophorese the DNA, and then transfer the separated fragments on the gel to a nylon membrane.

EXP-403 403. Detecting a Specific Sequence in the Mammalian Genome (View Individual Experiment)

Southern hybridization analysis can now be used for tracing defective genes in human DNA including those involved in Huntington’s disease, Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, and Cystic Fibrosis. This application is becoming increasingly important for diagnosing these diseases in members of afflicted families and it seems likely that the method will be used to detect additional abnormal and even normal human genetic traits in the near future. In this exercise students perform Southern hybridization analysis in order to characterize a specific sequence in mammalian DNA.

Prices

Catalog # Price Description
S4 315.89

The Chemical Package for 16 students working in pairs plus 17 student manuals and one instructor manual
S4-C 229.40

The Chemical Package for 16 students working in pairs plus one student manual and one instructor manual (The student manual may be reproduced for educational purposes.)
S4-SM 9.61

Sample Student Manual (76 pages) plus one instructor manual