Western blot

noun

, Biology, Medicine/Medical.

1. a highly sensitive procedure for identifying and measuring the amount of a specific protein in a mixed extract, as in testing for AIDS virus protein in a blood sample: proteins are separated by gel electrophoresis and transferred to a special filter paper, on which the protein under investigation can be detected by a probe, as the binding of a labeled antibody.

Word History and Origins

Origin of Western blot¹

Originally a facetious counterpart to Southern blot