An investigator wants to determine both the size and the relative abundance of a specific mRNA species in a cell extract. Which technique is most appropriate?

• A Northern blot hybridisation ✓
• B Southern blot hybridisation
• C Western blot hybridisation
• D Restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis

Explanation

Northern blotting separates total RNA by gel electrophoresis, transfers it to a membrane, and probes with a labelled complementary sequence. Band position gives transcript size and band intensity estimates abundance. Southern blot analyses DNA fragments, not RNA. Western blot analyses proteins. RFLP analysis examines DNA polymorphism patterns and provides no information about transcript size or quantity.

Reference: Harper's Illustrated Biochemistry, 32nd ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

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