Question

What is the name of the process that occurs when complementary pieces of dna or rna bind to each other?

Answer 1

The association of a DNA or RNA strand to its complement is one of the basic research tools of the molecular biologist. Binding of a compliment can identify target regions of DNA or RNA, and can be used to disrupt the process of DNA manufacture. If the complementary DNA is labeled with a compound that fluoresces, then the binding of the fluorescent probe can actually be visualized using a microscope. This permits the "real time" examination of DNA synthesis.