Textbook Question
In DNA technology, the term vector can refer to
a. The enzyme that cuts DNA into restriction fragments.
b. The sticky end of a DNA fragment.
c. A SNP marker.
d. A plasmid used to transfer DNA into a living cell.
Ch. 20 - DNA Tools and Biotechnology
Urry11th EditionCampbell BiologyISBN: 9789357423311
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Table of contents
- Ch. 1 - Evolution, the Themes of Biology, and Scientific Inquiry8
- Ch. 2 - The Chemical Context of Life8
- Ch. 3 - Water and Life6
- Ch. 4 - Carbon and the Molecular Diversity of Life9
- Ch. 5 - The Structure and Function of Large Biological Molecules9
- Ch. 6 - A Tour of the Cell6
- Ch. 7 - Membrane Structure and Function6
- Ch. 8 - An Introduction to Metabolism6
- Ch. 9 - Cellular Respiration and Fermentation10
- Ch. 10 - Photosynthesis7
- Ch. 11 - Cell Communication7
- Ch. 12 - The Cell Cycle10
- Ch. 13 - Meiosis and Sexual Life Cycles10
- Ch. 14 - Mendel and the Gene Idea14
- Ch, 15 - The Chromosomal Basis of Inheritance7
- Ch. 16 - The Molecular Basis of Inheritance9
- Ch. 17 - Gene Expression: From Gene to Protein9
- Ch. 18 - Regulation of Gene Expression10
- Ch. 19 - Viruses6
- Ch. 20 - DNA Tools and Biotechnology8
- Ch. 21 - Genomes and Their Evolution8
- Ch. 22 - Descent with Modification: A Darwininan View of Life6
- Ch. 23 - The Evolution of Populations5
- Ch. 24 - The Origin of Species6
- Ch. 25 - The History of Life on Earth6
- Ch. 26 - Phylogeny and the Tree of Life7
- Ch. 27 - Bacteria and Archaea8
- Ch. 28 - Protists7
- Ch. 29 - Plant Diversity I: How Plants Colonized Land7
- Ch. 30 - Plant Diversity II: The Evolution of Seed Plants7
- Ch. 31 - Fungi5
- Ch. 32 - An Overview of Animal Diversity4
- Ch. 33 - An introduction to Invertebrates6
- Ch. 34 - The Origin and Evolution of Vertebrates7
- Ch. 35 - Vascular Plant Structure, Growth, and Development8
- Ch. 36 - Resource Acquisition and Transport in Vascular Plants8
- Ch. 37 - Soil and Plant Nutrition10
- Ch. 38 - Angiosperm Reproduction and Biotechnology8
- Ch. 39 - Plant Responses to Internal and External Signals8
- Ch. 40 - Basic Principles of Animal Form and Function8
- Ch. 41 - Animal Nutrition7
- Ch. 42 - Circulation and Gas Exchange7
- Ch. 43 - The Immune System6
- Ch. 44 - Osmoregulation and Excretion6
- Ch. 45 - Hormones and the Endocrine System8
- Ch. 46 - Animal Reproduction8
- Ch. 47 - Animal Development8
- Ch. 48 - Neurons, Synapses, and Signaling6
- Ch. 49 - Nervous Systems8
- Ch. 50 - Sensory and Motor Mechanisms5
- Ch. 51 Animal Behavior6
- Ch. 52 - An Introduction to Ecology and the Biosphere7
- Ch. 53 - Population Ecology10
- Ch. 54 - Community Ecology9
- Ch. 55 - Ecosystems and Restoration Ecology8
- Ch. 56 - Conservation Biology and Global Change6
Chapter 20, Problem 4
A paleontologist has recovered a bit of tissue from the 400-year-old preserved skin of an extinct dodo (a bird). To compare a specific region of the DNA from a sample with DNA from living birds, which of the following would be most useful for increasing the amount of dodo DNA available for testing?
a. SNP analysis
b. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR)
c. Electroporation
d. Gel electrophoresis
Verified step by step guidance1
Understand the problem: The goal is to increase the amount of dodo DNA available for testing. This requires a method that can amplify small amounts of DNA.
Review the options: a. SNP analysis is used for identifying variations in DNA sequences, not for amplification. b. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is a technique specifically designed to amplify DNA. c. Electroporation is a method to introduce DNA into cells, not for amplification. d. Gel electrophoresis is used for separating DNA fragments by size, not for amplification.
Focus on PCR: Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is a technique that can exponentially amplify a specific DNA segment. It involves repeated cycles of denaturation, annealing, and extension.
Explain PCR process: In PCR, the DNA sample is first denatured by heating to separate the strands. Then, primers anneal to the target DNA sequence. DNA polymerase extends the primers, synthesizing new DNA strands. This cycle is repeated multiple times to amplify the DNA.
Conclude: Based on the need to increase the amount of DNA, PCR is the most suitable method for amplifying the dodo DNA for further testing and comparison with living birds.
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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 technique used to amplify small segments of DNA, making it possible to generate thousands to millions of copies of a particular DNA sequence. This is crucial when working with limited or degraded DNA samples, such as those from extinct species, as it allows for sufficient material to be available for further analysis and comparison.
Recommended video:
Guided course
01:31
Introduction to Polymerase Chain Reaction
DNA Amplification
DNA amplification is the process of creating multiple copies of a specific DNA sequence. This is essential in genetic studies, especially when the initial sample is too small for analysis. Techniques like PCR are employed to amplify DNA, enabling researchers to conduct detailed studies on genetic material that would otherwise be too scarce to examine.
Recommended video:
Guided course
06:10Signal Amplification
Comparative Genomics
Comparative genomics involves comparing the DNA sequences of different species to understand their evolutionary relationships and functional biology. By analyzing the DNA of extinct species like the dodo and comparing it with living birds, scientists can gain insights into evolutionary changes, genetic diversity, and the functional aspects of genes across species.
Recommended video:
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05:30Genomes and Genome Evolution
Related Practice
Textbook Question
Which of the following tools of DNA technology is incorrectly paired with its use?
a. Electrophoresis — Separation of DNA fragments
b. DNA ligase — Cutting DNA, creating sticky ends of restriction fragments
c. DNA polymerase — Polymerase chain reaction to amplify sections of DNA
d. Reverse transcriptase — Production of cDNA from mRNA
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Textbook Question
Plants are more readily manipulated by genetic engineering than are animals because
a. Plant genes do not contain introns.
b. More vectors are available for transferring recombinant DNA into plant cells.
c. A somatic plant cell can often give rise to a complete plant.
d. Plant cells have larger nuclei.
Textbook Question
DNA technology has many medical applications. Which of the following is not done routinely at present?
a. Production of hormones for treating diabetes and dwarfism
b. Analysis of gene expression for more informed cancer treatments
c. Gene editing by the CRISPR-Cas9 system in viable human embryos to correct genetic diseases
d. Prenatal identification of genetic disease alleles
Textbook Question
Which of the following is not true of cDNA produced using human brain tissue as the starting material?
a. It can be amplified by the polymerase chain reaction.
b. It was produced from pre-mRNA using reverse transcriptase.
c. It can be labeled and used as a probe to detect genes expressed in the brain.
d. It lacks the introns of the pre-mRNA.
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Textbook Question
Expression of a cloned eukaryotic gene in a bacterial cell involves many challenges. The use of mRNA and reverse transcriptase is part of a strategy to solve the problem of
a. Post-transcriptional processing.
b. Post-translational processing.
c. Nucleic acid hybridization.
d. Restriction fragment ligation.