Using a CCD camera imaging system as a recording device to quantify human DNA by slot blot hybridization

Slot blot hybridization of membrane-immobilized, single-stranded human DNA with the higher primate-specific alphoid probe D17Z1 is routinely used in f orensic science to estimate the amount of DNA in biological samples. Typica lly, a chemiluminescent signal captured on film records the hybridization, and the quantity oft he signal is related to the amount of immobilized DNA. Digital imaging rising a cooled CCD camera offers an alternate non-film-ba sed method for image acquisition with comparable sensitivity of detection, a greater dynamic range, enhanced capability of data interpretation, and of ten faster results than film. In addition, the data support the premise tha t more accurate and precise human DNA quantification should be obtained by not assuming a linear response of signal to known standards. Instead quanti ty should be estimated using a second-order standard curve (R-2 = 0.999). F inally, a CCD camera imaging system offers versatility for image capture of different signal sources and analysis of samples on a variety of support m edia.