What does nucleic acid hybridization involve?

Nucleic acid hybridization specifically refers to the process of joining two complementary strands of nucleic acids, such as DNA or RNA, to form a stable double helix structure. This process leverages the base-pairing rules of nucleic acids, where adenine pairs with thymine (or uracil in RNA) and cytosine pairs with guanine. The formation of these complementary base pairs allows scientists to study interactions between different nucleic acid sequences, which is essential in various applications such as molecular cloning, genetic testing, and the development of diagnostics.

In contrast, breaking down RNA into smaller fragments involves processes such as digestion by ribonucleases and does not represent hybridization. Transcribing DNA sequences into RNA is a key biological process known as transcription, which is distinct from hybridization. Sequencing DNA involves determining the exact order of nucleotides within a DNA molecule, which is another different technique that does not directly relate to the concept of hybridization. Thus, option A accurately captures the essence of nucleic acid hybridization.