Final answer:
DNA hybridization is the process where single strands of DNA or RNA pair based on sequence complementarity, differing from PCR which amplifies DNA and Southern blotting which involves detection after electrophoresis.
Step-by-step explanation:
The process during which two single strands of DNA/DNA or RNA/DNA can renature based on sequence complementarity is known as DNA hybridization. This involves the annealing, or the formation of hydrogen bonds, between the nucleotide base pairs of two single-stranded complementary nucleic acid sequences. Although Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and Southern blotting are techniques that involve DNA manipulation, the correct answer is D) DNA hybridization.
In Southern blotting, a labeled DNA probe is used to detect a specific DNA sequence within a sample after DNA fragmentation, electrophoresis, and transfer to a nitrocellulose membrane. The probe then hybridizes with its complementary DNA sequence on the membrane. The key principle in these techniques is the ability of nucleic acids to form complementary base pairs.