Genetics: Analysis and Principles 5th Edition by Robert Brooker

Exercise 12

The method of Northern blotting is used to determine the amount and size of a particular RNA transcribed in a given cell type. Alternative splicing (discussed in Chapter 16) produces mRNAs from the same gene that have different lengths. A Northern blot is shown here using a DNA probe that is complementary to the mRNA encoded by a particular gene. The mRNA in lanes 1 through 4 was isolated from different cell types, and equal amounts of total cellular mRNA were added to each lane.
a.
Explain these results.