Molecular biology techniques

Introduction

Molecular biology techniques are a set of methods used in Molecular biology, biochemistry, genetics and other related fields. These techniques allow scientists to study the structure and function of macromolecules such as DNA, RNA, and proteins, which are essential for life.

DNA Techniques

DNA Extraction

DNA extraction is a process of purifying DNA from a sample using a combination of physical and chemical methods. The first step in DNA extraction is lysis, in which a solution is used to break open the structure of the cells. The DNA is then precipitated out of the solution by adding alcohol. After precipitation, the DNA is washed and resuspended in a buffer solution.

DNA Sequencing

DNA sequencing is the process of determining the precise order of nucleotides within a DNA molecule. It includes any method or technology that is used to determine the order of the four bases—adenine, guanine, cytosine, and thymine—in a strand of DNA. The advent of rapid DNA sequencing methods has greatly accelerated biological and medical research and discovery.

Polymerase Chain Reaction

The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is a method widely used to rapidly make millions to billions of copies of a specific DNA sample, allowing scientists to take a very small sample of DNA and amplify it to a large enough amount to study in detail. PCR is now a common and often indispensable technique used in medical and biological research labs for a variety of applications.

RNA Techniques

RNA Extraction

RNA extraction is the purification of RNA from biological samples. This procedure is complicated by the instability of RNA and the ubiquitous presence of RNAse enzymes in cells and tissues, which can rapidly degrade RNA.

Reverse Transcription

Reverse transcription is the process of creating a complementary DNA (cDNA) from an RNA template through the action of the enzyme reverse transcriptase. This technique is often used in molecular biology to create a DNA template from an RNA molecule for amplification or other DNA manipulation techniques.

Protein Techniques

Protein Extraction

Protein extraction is the process of isolating proteins from the tissue of an organism, from cells or from a complex mixture. The protein can then be separated and purified using techniques such as gel electrophoresis or chromatography.

Western Blot

The Western blot is a widely used analytical technique used in molecular biology, biochemistry, immunogenetics and other molecular biology disciplines to detect specific proteins in a sample of tissue homogenate or extract.

Other Techniques

Gel Electrophoresis

Gel electrophoresis is a technique used for the separation of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), ribonucleic acid (RNA), or protein molecules using an electric current applied to a gel matrix.

Chromatography

Chromatography is a laboratory technique for the separation of a mixture. The mixture is dissolved in a fluid called the mobile phase, which carries it through a structure holding another material called the stationary phase.