Question

What is the difference between Southern and Northern hybridizations?

a. southern blots hybridize a DNA probe to a digested DNA sample but northern blots hybridize a DNA probe to, usually, mRNA
b. southern blots use an RNA probe to hybridize to DNA but northern blots use an RNA probe to hybridize to RNA
c. southern blots determine if a particular gene is being expressed but northern blots determina the homology between mRNA and a DNA probe
d. southern blots determine the homology between mRNA and a DNA probe but northern blots determine if a particular gene is being expressed
e. southern and northern blots are essentially the same technique performed in different hemispheres of the world.

Answer 1

a. southern blots hybridize a DNA probe to a digested DNA sample but northern blots hybridize a DNA probe to, usually, mRNA

Step-by-step explanation:

Both techniques are quite similar. The main objective of this technique is to identified specific either DNA or mRNA molecules. Hybridization is the process of forming a double - stranded DNA molecule between a single-stranded DNA probe and a single-stranded target DNA (which is the fragment that wants to be found. Northern blotting targets mRNA while Southern blotting targets DNA sequences.