18. Molecular Genetic Tools

Compare and contrast methods for making transgenic plants and transgenic Drosophila.

The U.S. Department of Justice has established a database that catalogs PCR amplification products from short tandem repeats of the Y chromosome (Y-STRs) in humans. The database contains polymorphisms of five U.S. ethnic groups (African-Americans, European Americans, Hispanics, Native Americans, and Asian-Americans) as well as the worldwide population.

For forensic applications, the probability of a 'match' for a crime scene DNA sample and a suspect's DNA often culminates in a guilty or innocent verdict. How is a 'match' determined, and what are the uses and limitations of such probabilities?

Ligase catalyzes a reaction between the 5′ phosphate and the 3′ hydroxyl groups at the ends of DNA molecules. The enzyme calf intestinal phosphatase catalyzes the removal of the 5′5′ phosphate from DNA molecules. What would be the consequence of treating a cloning vector, before ligation, with calf intestinal phosphatase?

The purpose of polymerase chain reaction is to do what?

Which of the following lists the steps of genetic cloning in the proper order?

How can gene knockouts, transgenic animals, and gene editing techniques be used to explore gene function?

What experimental evidence confirms that we have introduced a useful gene into a transgenic organism and that it performs as we anticipate?

How has DNA-sequencing technology evolved in response to the emerging needs of genome scientists?