Practice question

Western blotting is inherently unsuitable for DNA detection because it employs antibodies raised against polypeptide epitopes and conditions optimized for protein immobilization and immunorecognition. DNA molecules lack immunoglobulin recognition sites and are not detected by anti-protein antibodies. Furthermore, no nucleic acid probe hybridization step is incorporated. Compatible DNA analysis methods include native or denaturing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis stained with ethidium bromide, agarose electrophoresis, denaturing high-performance liquid chromatography separating based on melting behavior, and fluorescence microscopy with DAPI or Hoechst dyes. Thus immunoblotting cannot serve for nucleic acid characterization.