Background...

[David L. Haviland, Ph.D.]

Hi all:

I've noticed this thread of "background" on Southerns cropping up again.  
I'd like to toss my $0.02 worth.  About 6 years ago I was handed a 
GeneScreen manual that stated that background could be minimized by 
increasing the SDS concenctration to > 0.5%, and if taken to 1-2% the 
normal inclusion of salmon sperm DNA could be eliminated.  In my hands, 
this has worked very well over the years.  I routinely do my southerns in 
1% SDS w/o SS-DNA.  For me, this has been a cure (almost all the time) 
for background and a money saver not having to buy SS-DNA.

As far as northerns go - can't recommend Virca et al Biotechniques 
8:370 *enough*.  With 5% SDS and a very efficient transfer, this protocol 
has been like gold in our lab.

Hope this helps. 
David

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