Which of the following best describes the method for visualizing fragments in Maxam-Gilbert Sequencing?

Maxam-Gilbert Sequencing is a method used for DNA sequencing that relies on the selective cleavage of DNA at specific bases. After the DNA is subjected to chemical reactions that cleave the strands at various nucleotide positions, the resulting fragments need to be visualized to determine the sequence. The most effective way to visualize these fragments is through autoradiography, which captures the radioactive signals emitted by the cleaved DNA fragments.

In this context, the statement that autoradiography yields a series of dark bands is particularly accurate. Each band represents fragments of DNA that are the result of the cleavage process, corresponding to the locations of the bases. The dark bands on the autoradiograph indicate the length of these fragments, allowing researchers to deduce the sequence of the original DNA strand by analyzing the positions of the bands.

Other methods mentioned, such as polymerase chain reaction, fluorescence microscopy, and gel electrophoresis without labeling, do not provide the same direct visual representation of the specific fragment sizes and sequences produced in Maxam-Gilbert Sequencing. Each of these methods serves different purposes in molecular biology but is not directly applicable to visualizing the results of this specific sequencing technique.