Double-Stranded DNA Probes Must Be Denatured When Used in Northern

Question

Double-stranded DNA probes must be denatured when used in northern blot experiments to ensure that
A) they are properly radioactively labeled or tagged with a dye.
B) the DNA coding strand hybridizes to RNA on the membrane.
C) both DNA strands bind the single-stranded RNA on the membrane.
D) the RNA coding strand hybridizes to DNA on the membrane.
E) an RNA strand binds to another RNA strand on the membrane.

Accepted Answer

Double-stranded DNA probes must be denatured to ensure that the DNA coding strand hybridizes to RNA on the membrane. Denaturation separates the two strands so that the probe can hybridize to the single-stranded RNA on the membrane.