| The nylon membrane is the first item to be placed on the gel. |  |
| It is critical to line up the membrane and the gel. Once the membrane is on the gel, transfer starts almost immediately. |  |
| Lay down the membrane in a smooth motion, either
from the top down or from the center going out.
Then smooth out any air bubbles that may be trapped between the membrane and the gel. |
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| The next step is applying the parafilm "mask" around
the perimeter of the membrane.
Cover enough of the membrane so the parafilm stays in place, but not enough to block any DNA lanes. |
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| Once the parafilm has sealed the nylon membrane,
the two filter paper wicks are centered on top of the membrane.
Finally, a stack of paper towels is put on top of the filter paper to encourage the capillary action. |
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