Understanding Nucleic Acid Probes and Hybridization
What is true statement about a nucleic acid probe to hybridize
a. both the probe and the sequence to which it hybridizes must be RNA
b. both the probe and the sequence to which it hybridizes must be DNA
c. The sequence to which it hybridizes must be identical to that of the probe
d. The sequence to which it hybridizes must be complementary to that of the probe
Correct Answer:
✅ (D) The sequence to which it hybridizes must be complementary to that of the probe.
What is a Nucleic Acid Probe?
A nucleic acid probe is a short, single-stranded DNA or RNA molecule that is used to detect complementary sequences in a target DNA or RNA sample. The probe is labeled with a radioactive, fluorescent, or enzymatic marker to facilitate detection.
Hybridization is the process where the probe binds to its complementary sequence via base-pairing rules (A-T and G-C in DNA, or A-U and G-C in RNA).
Explanation of the Answer Choices
(A) Both the probe and the sequence to which it hybridizes must be RNA – ❌ Incorrect
- RNA probes are commonly used to detect RNA, but DNA probes can also be used for RNA hybridization in Northern blotting.
- DNA probes can hybridize with either DNA (Southern blot) or RNA (Northern blot).
(B) Both the probe and the sequence to which it hybridizes must be DNA – ❌ Incorrect
- This is incorrect because DNA probes can hybridize with RNA, and RNA probes can hybridize with DNA.
- The key requirement is sequence complementarity, not the type of nucleic acid.
(C) The sequence to which it hybridizes must be identical to that of the probe – ❌ Incorrect
- Hybridization requires complementary base pairing, not an identical sequence.
- A probe cannot bind effectively if it is identical to the target sequence, as no base-pairing would occur.
(D) The sequence to which it hybridizes must be complementary to that of the probe – ✅ Correct
- Nucleic acid hybridization is based on the Watson-Crick base-pairing rule:
- A pairs with T (or U in RNA)
- G pairs with C
- The probe must be complementary to the target sequence for hybridization to occur.
- This principle is fundamental in techniques such as Southern blotting, Northern blotting, microarrays, and in situ hybridization.
Applications of Nucleic Acid Probes
🔬 Molecular Diagnostics – Detecting genetic diseases (e.g., sickle cell anemia, cystic fibrosis).
🦠 Infectious Disease Testing – Identifying viral or bacterial infections (e.g., COVID-19, tuberculosis).
🧬 Genetic Research – Studying gene expression and mutations using microarrays and blotting techniques.
💉 Cancer Research – Identifying oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes.
Conclusion
A nucleic acid probe hybridizes to a complementary sequence in a DNA or RNA sample, not an identical one. This principle is the foundation of molecular biology techniques such as Southern and Northern blotting, PCR, and microarrays, making hybridization a powerful tool in genetic research, diagnostics, and forensic science.
63 Comments
Ujjwal
March 8, 2025👍✔️
Suman bhakar
March 8, 2025Ok
Priyanka yadav
April 1, 2025👍
Aakansha Sharma
August 20, 2025Option d bcz sequence complement hona chahiye probe k
Dipti Sharma
August 20, 2025(D) The sequence to which it hybridizes must be complementary to that of the probe.
Mahima Sharma
August 21, 2025Complimentary to the prob
Anurag Giri
August 20, 2025Ans d The sequence to which it hybridizes must be complementary to that of the probe.
Hybridization is the process where the probe binds to its complementary sequence
Asha Gurzzar
August 20, 2025D is correct as probe should be complementary of the sequence
Neelam Sharma
August 20, 2025The sequence to which it hybridizes must be complementary to that of the probe
Diksha Chhipa
August 20, 2025Probe is always used of complementary seq of dna or rna
Nilofar Khan
August 20, 2025Correct answer is d
Dharmpal Swami
August 20, 2025Nucleic acid probe hybridised to its completely sequence
Khushi Mehra
August 20, 2025Nucleic acid probe used for binding of the complementary sequence of specific DNA/RNA sample
anjani sharma
August 20, 2025Answer d The sequence to which it hybridizes must be complementary to that of the probe.
Mansukh Kapoor
August 20, 2025The correct answer is option 4th
The sequence which is used is always complementary to the probe
Priya dhakad
August 20, 2025The sequence to which it hybridizes must be complementary to that of the probe.
Kavita choudhary
August 20, 2025Answer d the sequence to which it hybrids must be complimentary to that of the probe
Surbhi Rajawat
August 20, 2025The probe must be complementary to the gene we want to detect. Therefore D is correct answer
Komal Pareek
August 20, 2025Sequence must be complementary
Priya khandal
August 20, 2025Flower complementary of rna
Priti khandal
August 20, 2025Probe are complementary for dna
Deepika Sheoran
August 20, 2025Option 4th is correct answer
The sequence which hybridizes must be complementary sequence to that of the probe.
Mohd juber Ali
August 21, 2025Option 4
Probe known as labelled sequence
Radio label probe binds with complimentary sequence
Aman Choudhary
August 21, 2025Option D is correct
Probe bind with their complementary sequence
Khushi Vaishnav
August 21, 2025Nucleic acid probe is a short, single-stranded DNA or RNA molecule that is used to detect complementary sequences in a target DNA or RNA sample.
The probe is labeled with a radioactive, fluorescent for detection.
Payal Gaur
August 21, 2025Option D the sequence of nucleic acid is must be complimentary to the probe
Sakshi yadav
August 21, 2025The sequence to which it hybridizes must be complementary to that of the probe.
Aafreen Khan
August 21, 2025The sequence to which it hybridizes must be complementary to that of the probe
Sheikh Aleen
August 21, 2025The sequence to which it hybridizes must be complementary to that of the probe.
Santosh Saini
August 21, 2025The sequence must be complementary to the probe
Avni
August 21, 2025The sequence to which it hybridizes must be complementary to that of the probe.
Divya rani
August 21, 2025Yes probe sequence and specific sequence should be complementary for specific binding.
Bhawna Choudhary
August 21, 2025The sequence to which it hybridize must be complementary to that of the probe
Simran Saini
August 22, 2025The sequence to which it hybridize must be complementary to that of the probe.
karishma
August 22, 2025The sequence to which it hybridizes must be complementary to that of the probe
Soniya Shekhawat
August 23, 2025Probe is used to detect complementary sequence of specific RNA or DNA target.
Kirti agarwal
August 23, 2025Opt d
Priya khandal
August 23, 2025The sequence to which it hybridise must be complementary to that of the probe
Sakshi Kanwar
August 23, 2025Sequence which is to be hybridised should be complementary with the probe option D
Kajal
August 23, 2025A probe hybridised it’s complementary sequence..
Bharti Yadav
August 23, 2025probe should be complementary to target seq. for hybridization
Yogita
August 24, 2025The sequence to which it it hybridizes must be complementary to that of the probe
Sneha Kumawat
August 24, 2025The sequence to which is hybrid must be complementaryb to that of the probe
Mitali saini
August 24, 2025(D) The sequence to which it hybridizes must be complementary to that of the probe.
Shivani
August 24, 2025Option D.-The sequence to which it hybridizes must be complementary to that of the probe is right answer.
Neeraj Sharma
August 24, 2025Option D is correct as complimentary probe is necessary to bind with the target
Tanvi Panwar
August 24, 2025The sequence to which the probe hybridizes must be identical to the probe.
Surendra Doodi
August 24, 2025The sequence to which it hybridizes must be complementary to that of the probe
Sonam Saini
August 24, 2025D answer is right
Priyanka Verma
August 24, 2025The correct answer is D – the sequence to which it hybridizes must be complementary to the probe
Falguni Prakash
August 24, 2025D must be complementary
Kashish yadav
August 25, 2025Ok sir
Kajal
August 25, 2025the sequence to which the probe hybridised must be identical to the probe
Bhavana kankhedia
August 26, 2025The sequence to which it hybridizes must be complementary to that of the probe
Priyanka Meena
August 26, 2025The sequence to which it hybridization must be complementary to that of the probe
Muskan Yadav
August 26, 2025The sequence to which it hybridizes must be complementary to that of the probe.
Manisha choudhary
August 27, 2025D option is correct
Probe target sequence k complimentary hona chahiye
Identical too bind hi nhi kr skta
Kanica Sunwalka
August 28, 2025done
Shriyanshi verma
August 30, 2025(D) The sequence to which it hybridizes must be complementary to that of the probe.
Alec
August 30, 2025option d is correct the sequence it hybridizes must be complimentary to that probe.
Pratibha Jain
August 30, 2025Correct Answer is option (D)
The sequence to which it hybridizes must be complementary to that of the probe.
Shobha Kanwar
August 31, 2025Answer is option (D)
The sequence to which it hybridizes must be complementary to that of the probe.
Anjali
September 1, 2025Probe is always used of complementary seq of dna or rna