Textbook Question
Imagine you have found a small quantity of DNA. Fill in the following diagram, which outlines a series of DNA technology experiments you could perform to study this DNA.
<IMAGE>
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
793
views
Ch. 12 DNA Technology and Genomics
Taylor, Simon, Dickey, Hogan10th EditionCampbell Biology: Concepts & ConnectionsISBN: 9780136538783
Not the one you use?Change textbookSelect a different textbook
Table of contents
- Ch. 1 Biology: The Study of Scientific Life19
- Ch. 2 The Chemical Basis of Life17
- Ch. 3 The Molecules of Cells21
- Ch. 4 A Tour of the Cell20
- Ch. 5 The Working Cell17
- Ch. 6 How Cells Harvest Chemical Energy18
- Ch. 7 Photosynthesis: Using Light to Make Food15
- Ch. 8 The Cellular Basis of Reproduction and Inheritance22
- Ch. 9 Patterns of Inheritance17
- Ch. 10 Molecular Biology of the Gene13
- Ch. 11 How Genes Are Controlled13
- Ch. 12 DNA Technology and Genomics23
- Ch. 13 How Populations Evolve17
- Ch. 14 The Origin of Species19
- Ch. 15 Tracing Evolutionary History18
- Ch. 16 Microbial Life: Prokaryotes and Protists16
- Ch. 17 The Evolution of Plant and Fungal Diversity15
- Ch. 18 The Evolution of Invertebrate Diversity13
- Ch. 19 The Evolution of Vertebrate Diversity18
- Ch. 20 Unifying Concepts of Animal Structure and Function11
- Ch. 21 Nutrition and Digestion16
- Ch. 22 Gas Exchange16
- Ch. 23 Circulation17
- Ch. 24 The Immune System16
- Ch. 25 Control of Body Temperature and Water Balance20
- Ch. 26 Hormones and the Endocrine System10
- Ch. 27 Reproduction and Embryonic Development12
- Ch. 28 Nervous Systems10
- Ch. 29 The Senses12
- Ch. 30 How Animals Move19
- Ch. 31 Plant Structure, Growth, and Reproduction9
- Ch. 32 Plant Nutrition and Transport12
- Ch. 33 Control Systems in Plants15
- Ch. 34 The Biosphere: An Introduction to Earth's Diverse Environments15
- Ch. 35 Behavioral Adaptations to the Environment12
- Ch. 36 Population Ecology15
- Ch. 37 Communities and Ecosystems14
- Ch. 38 Conservation Biology14
Taylor, Simon, Dickey, Hogan10th EditionCampbell Biology: Concepts & ConnectionsISBN: 9780136538783Not the one you use?Change textbook
Chapter 12, Problem 4
A paleontologist has recovered a tiny bit of organic material from the 400-year-old preserved skin of an extinct dodo. She would like to compare DNA from the sample with DNA from living birds. Which of the following would be most useful for increasing the amount of DNA available for testing?
a. Restriction fragment analysis
b. Polymerase chain reaction
c. Molecular probe analysis
d. Electrophoresis
Verified step by step guidance1
Understand the problem: The paleontologist needs to increase the amount of DNA from a small sample to compare it with DNA from living birds. This requires a method that amplifies DNA efficiently.
Review the options: Analyze each method provided in the question to determine which one is most suitable for amplifying DNA.
Option a: Restriction fragment analysis is used to cut DNA into smaller fragments using restriction enzymes, but it does not amplify DNA. This method is not suitable for increasing DNA quantity.
Option b: Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is a technique specifically designed to amplify DNA. It uses primers, DNA polymerase, and thermal cycling to create millions of copies of a specific DNA sequence, making it ideal for this purpose.
Option c and d: Molecular probe analysis and electrophoresis are used for identifying or separating DNA fragments, but they do not increase the amount of DNA. Therefore, they are not suitable for this task. Based on this analysis, the most useful method is polymerase chain reaction (PCR).
Verified video answer for a similar problem:
This video solution was recommended by our tutors as helpful for the problem above.
Video duration:
1mWas this helpful?
Key Concepts
Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)
Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) is a molecular biology technique used to amplify specific DNA sequences, making millions of copies from a small sample. This is particularly useful when working with degraded or limited DNA, such as that from ancient or preserved specimens. By using primers that target specific regions of the DNA, PCR allows researchers to generate sufficient quantities for further analysis.
Recommended video:
Guided course
01:31
Introduction to Polymerase Chain Reaction
DNA Analysis Techniques
Various DNA analysis techniques, such as restriction fragment analysis and electrophoresis, are used to study DNA structure and function. Restriction fragment analysis involves cutting DNA with specific enzymes to analyze the resulting fragments, while electrophoresis separates DNA fragments based on size. However, these methods do not increase the amount of DNA available, which is crucial in this context.
Recommended video:
Guided course
03:30DNA Fingerprinting
Molecular Probes
Molecular probes are short strands of nucleic acids used to detect specific sequences of DNA or RNA. They can bind to complementary sequences, allowing researchers to identify and quantify specific genetic material. While useful for analysis, molecular probes do not amplify DNA, making them less relevant for increasing the amount of DNA from a small sample.
Recommended video:
05:13The Molecular Clock
Related Practice
Textbook Question
Which of the following would be considered a transgenic organism?
a. A bacterium that has received genes via conjugation
b. A human given a corrected human blood-clotting gene
c. A fern grown in cell culture from a single fern root cell
d. A rat with rabbit hemoglobin genes
1452
views
Textbook Question
The DNA profiles used as evidence in a murder trial look something like supermarket bar codes. The pattern of bars in a DNA profile shows
a. The order of bases in a particular gene.
b. The presence of various-sized fragments of DNA.
c. The presence of dominant or recessive alleles for particular traits.
d. The order of genes along particular chromosomes.
1157
views
Textbook Question
How many genes are there in a human sperm cell?
a. 23
b. 46
c. About 21,000
d. about 3 billion
1793
views
Textbook Question
When a typical restriction enzyme cuts a DNA molecule, the cuts are uneven, giving the DNA fragments single-stranded ends. These ends are useful in recombinant DNA work because
a. They enable a cell to recognize fragments produced by the enzyme.
b. They serve as starting points for DNA replication.
c. The fragments will bond to other fragments with complementary ends.
d. They enable researchers to use the fragments as molecular probes.
1563
views
Textbook Question
Why does DNA profiling rely on comparing specific genetic markers rather than the entire genome?
1205
views