What is a consequence of having a hybridization wash with too low stringency?

When performing a hybridization wash with low stringency, the conditions favor the binding of probes to their target sequences as well as to sequences that are not perfectly complementary. This results in non-specific binding of the probe, which means that the probe can attach to a wider variety of sequences than intended.

In molecular biology, specificity is crucial for obtaining accurate results, particularly in techniques like hybridization assays, where the goal is to detect specific nucleic acid sequences. Low stringency washes reduce the requirement for a perfect match between the probe and target sequence, allowing the probe to hybridize to sequences that may differ slightly, leading to increased background noise and potentially making it difficult to interpret the results.

In contrast, higher stringency washes would eliminate many of these non-specific interactions, enhancing the specificity of the binding to only those sequences that are a perfect match. Hence, the consequence of low stringency is primarily characterized by non-specific binding rather than improved specificity or better interpretation of results.