The principle behind nucleic acid probe design is that the probe itself must contain
A) a key complementary part of the target gene sequence of interest.
B) all of the nucleotide sequence of the gene of interest to conclusively identify the gene.
C) an antibody to specifically bind to the gene of interest.
D) at least three separate complementary regions of the gene of interest.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The key principle behind nucleic acid probe design is to design a probe containing a complementary part of the target gene sequence of interest. The goal of the probe is to hybridize with the target sequence and provide a specific signal for detection. Therefore, the probe should contain a complementary sequence to the gene of interest, usually ranging from 15-30 nucleotides in length. Option B is not necessary as a partial complementary sequence is sufficient for hybridization. Option C is incorrect as probes do not contain antibodies. Option D is not necessary, as a single complementary region can be sufficient for hybridization.

The Principle Behind Nucleic Acid Probe Design Is That the Probe