Thalassemia is a recessive blood disease caused by reduced synthesis of one of the globin genes. While SCD is a mutation in the structure of hemoglobin, thalassemias can also be caused by mutations in the regulatory elements, causing too little globin to be produced and resulting in anemia. You've designed a DNA probe that you want to use to screen a family for a rare mutation in the β-globin gene that causes thalassemia. First you will use the probe for northern blotting. What information will the northern blot tell you?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The northern blot will tell you both whether the amount of the β-globin gene being transcribed (mRNA levels) is within normal range and the size of the mRNA being transcribed. The probe will bind to the mRNA and, through hybridization, allow for the detection of the specific β-globin mRNA transcripts. By comparing the mRNA levels and size to a control, it can be determined if there is a mutation causing reduced synthesis of the β-globin gene. However, the presence of a particular mutation by restriction fragment analysis is not determined by a northern blot, but rather by a different type of analysis such as PCR or DNA sequencing.

Thalassemia Is a Recessive Blood Disease Caused by Reduced Synthesis