Molecular Technique in Biomedical Research: Western Blotting

Nikita Shah

Faculty: Lauren Endres

A branch of biology, molecular biology, studies how genes are translated into RNA and then into proteins, and how those proteins impact cellular function. There are techniques used by molecular biologists to recognize, separate, and analyze molecules that make up cells, such as DNA, RNA, and proteins.

Further, changes in these cellular macromolecules are associated with various disease pathologies. While working in the Lin Lab at Masonic Medical Research Institute, I have learned some of these fundamental techniques, including genotyping and western blotting. Genotyping refers to the process of determining an individual’s genetic makeup, analyzing DNA and identifying genetic markers that correlate with specific traits.

Genotyping is an essential tool in research, as it allows scientists to identify genetic variants that link to specific traits or diseases, and identify genetically modified mice used as models for medical research. Western Blotting is is a technique used to detect proteins in a sample of biological materials (cells or tissues) to identify and quantify specific proteins.

This molecular toolkit will enable me to make significant future contributions to medical research.