For use in a hybridization reaction, a probe must be Blank______ to the target DNA.Multiple choice question.identicalantigeniccomplementary

Breakdown the Problem

The question asks about the relationship between a probe and target DNA in the context of a hybridization reaction. We need to identify the correct term from the given options.

Relevant Concepts

In molecular biology, a probe is a nucleic acid sequence used to detect the presence of complementary sequences by hybridization. The effectiveness of a probe depends largely on its ability to bind to its specific target.

Analysis and Detail

1. Identical: This suggests that the probe must be exactly the same as the target, which may not necessarily be true as probes typically bind to regions complementary to their sequences.

2. Antigenic: This typically refers to a part of a molecule that is recognized by the immune system. This is not applicable in the context of hybridization.

3. Complementary: This means that the probe must have a sequence that can base pair with the target DNA sequence. This is a fundamental principle of hybridization.

Verify and Summarize

Given that the crucial requirement for a successful hybridization reaction is that the probe must bind to the target DNA through complementary base pairing, the correct choice here would be "complementary."

Final Answer

Complementary.