Final answer:
Nucleic acids are transferred from a gel to a membrane using techniques such as capillary action, vacuum blotting, and electroblotting. Southern and Northern blotting are the respective terms used for the transfer of DNA and RNA to a membrane for subsequent detection by labelled probes.
Step-by-step explanation:
Methods of Nucleic Acid Transfer from Gel to a Membrane
The process of transferring nucleic acids from a gel to a membrane, known as blotting, is essential in molecular biology for detecting specific sequences. The two well-known techniques are Southern blotting for DNA and Northern blotting for RNA.
Once the nucleic acids are immobilized on the membrane, they can be detected using a labelled probe that binds to the target sequence, allowing visualization and identification of specific sequences within the sample.