Question 1: Western blot is used for:
- A. RNA
- B. Maternal DNA
- C. DNA
- D. Proteins (Correct Answer)
Explanation: ***Proteins***
- **Western blot** (also known as protein immunoblot) is a widely used analytical technique in molecular biology and immunogenetics to **detect specific proteins** in a given sample.
- It involves separating proteins by size using gel electrophoresis, transferring them to a membrane, and then detecting the protein of interest using specific **antibodies**.
*RNA*
- The technique used to detect RNA is called **Northern blot**, which involves separating RNA fragments by size and then detecting specific RNA sequences using nucleic acid probes.
- While both Northern and Western blots involve electrophoresis and transfer to a membrane, the target molecule is different.
*Maternal DNA*
- Detection of specific DNA sequences, including maternal DNA or fetal DNA, is typically performed using techniques like **Southern blot** or, more commonly now, **PCR-based methods** and **next-generation sequencing**.
- Maternal DNA itself is not the specific target of a Western blot; proteins derived from any source of DNA, maternal or otherwise, would be the target.
*DNA*
- The technique primarily used for the detection of specific DNA sequences is **Southern blot**, which involves separating DNA fragments by size and using labeled probes to identify target sequences.
- Western blot is fundamentally designed for protein analysis, relying on antibody-antigen recognition rather than DNA hybridization.