Question

Write the full form of VNTR. How is a VNTR different from a probe?

Answer 1

VNTRs are small DNA fragments which are 15-100 base pairs in length. They are repeating DNA strands which are found within and between the genes. These are found on the non-coding part of the genome and are used in VNTR profiling. Probe is a small part of DNA or RNA which is used to search a particular DNA sequence in a DNA sample.

Complete answer:
To know the correct answer to the question, we must be well aware of the VNTRs.
VNTRs stand for Variable Number Tandem Repeats. These repeats are different in different people. They can be one to twenty kilobases in length.
Variable Number Tandem Repeats find their use in DNA profiling. The only limitation is that they require a large sample of DNA. Therefore, it is used in cases where a large sample of DNA is present like in paternity testing.
A probe is a single stranded DNA or RNA which has a specific base sequence. The complementary bases of this sequence are to be located in the given sample and hence the probe is used. This probe will go and attach with the complementary sequence and we can easily find the location of these strands.

Note: Here it must be noted that the VNTRs have repeated DNA sequence. These vary from person to person and are also known as the satellites. They are already present in the body. Probes on the other hand are artificially synthesized and are radiolabelled so that we can easily find their location on the DNA.