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Multiple Choice
An enzyme that cuts DNA at a symmetrical sequence of bases is called __________.
A
reverse transcriptase
B
cDNA
C
palindrome
D
ligase
E
a restriction enzyme
Verified step by step guidance
1
Understand the role of enzymes in DNA manipulation: Enzymes are biological catalysts that speed up chemical reactions, including those involving DNA.
Identify the function of a restriction enzyme: Restriction enzymes are proteins that cut DNA at specific sequences, often recognizing palindromic sequences.
Define a palindromic sequence: A palindromic sequence in DNA is a sequence of bases that reads the same forward and backward on complementary strands.
Differentiate between the given options: Reverse transcriptase synthesizes DNA from RNA, cDNA is complementary DNA, and ligase joins DNA fragments. None of these cut DNA at specific sequences.
Conclude that the enzyme that cuts DNA at a symmetrical sequence of bases is a restriction enzyme, as it recognizes and cleaves specific palindromic sequences in the DNA.