Western blotting is a method used to detect which biomolecule?

Western blotting is a method used to detect which biomolecule?

• A. DNA
• B. RNA
• C. Protein
• D. Carbohydrates

Answer: (C)

Western blotting is used to detect a specific protein in a mixture by using antibodies that recognize a target protein. After separating proteins by size on a gel, they’re transferred to a membrane and probed with an antibody against the protein of interest. The antibody binding is then visualized, showing the presence—and often the relative amount—of that protein in the sample. This relies on antibody–antigen interactions, which are specific to proteins, not nucleic acids or carbohydrates. DNA and RNA, for example, are detected with separate blotting methods that use nucleic-acid probes, while carbohydrates aren’t targeted by this antibody-based approach. So the biomolecule detected by Western blotting is protein.

Western blotting is used to detect a specific protein in a mixture by using antibodies that recognize a target protein. After separating proteins by size on a gel, they’re transferred to a membrane and probed with an antibody against the protein of interest. The antibody binding is then visualized, showing the presence—and often the relative amount—of that protein in the sample. This relies on antibody–antigen interactions, which are specific to proteins, not nucleic acids or carbohydrates. DNA and RNA, for example, are detected with separate blotting methods that use nucleic-acid probes, while carbohydrates aren’t targeted by this antibody-based approach. So the biomolecule detected by Western blotting is protein.