The Detection of Specific DNA Sequences by Enhanced Chemiluminescence

Blotting transfer techniques are well-established procedures for the immobilization of DNA onto solid matrices, typically nitrocellulose or nylon membranes. The Southern blotting technique (ref. 1 and Chapter 15 ) has found many research and, more recently, medical applications. For example, in the diagnosis of genetic diseases, such as thalassemia (2 ) and muscular dystrophy (3 ), restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs) detected on blots are used as a basis for identifying genetic mutations (Chapter 30 ). In addition, the method of choice for identifying host bacteria containing recombinant DNA sequences continues to be colony or plaque screening using membrane discs.