18. Molecular Genetic Tools
Methods for Analyzing DNA
- Open QuestionA family consisting of a mother (I-1), a father (I-2), and three children (II-1, II-2, and II-3) are genotyped by PCR for a region of an autosome containing repeats of a 10-bp sequence. The mother carries 16 repeats on one chromosome and 21 on the homologous chromosome. The father carries repeat numbers of 18 and 26.Following the layout of Figure 7.26c, which aligns members of a pedigree with their DNA fragments in a gel, draw a DNA gel containing the PCR fragments generated by amplification of DNA from the parents (I-1 and I-2). Label the size of each fragment.
- Open QuestionYou have identified an enhancer trap line (see Figure 14.17) generated by P element transposition in Drosophila in which the marker gene from the enhancer trap is specifically expressed in the wing imaginal disc.How can you identify the gene adjacent to the insertion site of the enhancer trap?
- Open Question
You have identified an enhancer trap line (see Figure 14.17) generated by P element transposition in Drosophila in which the marker gene from the enhancer trap is specifically expressed in the wing imaginal disc.
How would you show that the expression pattern of the enhancer trap line reflects the endogenous gene expression pattern of the adjacent gene? - Open Question
A family consisting of a mother (I-1), a father (I-2), and three children (II-1, II-2, and II-3) are genotyped by PCR for a region of an autosome containing repeats of a 10-bp sequence. The mother carries 16 repeats on one chromosome and 21 on the homologous chromosome. The father carries repeat numbers of 18 and 26.
Identify all the possible genotypes of children of this couple by specifying PCR fragment lengths in each genotype. - Open Question
A family consisting of a mother (I-1), a father (I-2), and three children (II-1, II-2, and II-3) are genotyped by PCR for a region of an autosome containing repeats of a 10-bp sequence. The mother carries 16 repeats on one chromosome and 21 on the homologous chromosome. The father carries repeat numbers of 18 and 26.
What genetic term best describes the pattern of inheritance of this DNA marker? Explain your choice. - Open Question
Suppose you have a 1-kb segment of cloned DNA that is suspected to contain a eukaryotic promoter including a TATA box, a CAAT box, and an upstream GC-rich sequence. The clone also contains a gene whose transcript is readily detectable. Your laboratory supervisor asks you to outline an experiment that will (1) determine if eukaryotic transcription factors (TF) bind to the fragment and, if so, (2) identify where on the fragment the transcription factors bind. All necessary reagents, equipment, and experimental know-how are available in the laboratory. Your assignment is to propose techniques to be used to address the two items your supervisor has listed and to describe the kind of results that would indicate binding of TF to the DNA and the location of the binding. (Hint: The techniques and general results are discussed in this chapter.)
- Open Question
In a dideoxy DNA sequencing experiment, four separate reactions are carried out to provide the replicated material for DNA sequencing gels. Reaction products are usually run in gel lanes labeled A, T, C, and G.
How does PCR play a role in dideoxy DNA sequencing? - Open Question
In a dideoxy DNA sequencing experiment, four separate reactions are carried out to provide the replicated material for DNA sequencing gels. Reaction products are usually run in gel lanes labeled A, T, C, and G.
Why is incorporation of a dideoxynucleotide during DNA sequencing identified as a 'replication-terminating' event? - Open Question
In a dideoxy DNA sequencing experiment, four separate reactions are carried out to provide the replicated material for DNA sequencing gels. Reaction products are usually run in gel lanes labeled A, T, C, and G.
Identify the nucleotides used in the dideoxy DNA sequencing reaction that produces molecules for the A lane of the sequencing gel. - Open QuestionA three-gene system of additive genes (A, B, and C) controls plant height. Each gene has two alleles (A and a, B and b, and C and c). There is dominance among the alleles of each gene, with alleles A, B, and C dominant over a, b, and c. Under this scheme, the dominant genotype for a gene contributes 10 cm to height potential, and the recessive genotype contributes 4 cm.What are the phenotypes and proportions of each phenotype among the F₂?
- Open QuestionA three-gene system of additive genes (A, B, and C) controls plant height. Each gene has two alleles (A and a, B and b, and C and c). There is dominance among the alleles of each gene, with alleles A, B, and C dominant over a, b, and c. Under this scheme, the dominant genotype for a gene contributes 10 cm to height potential, and the recessive genotype contributes 4 cm.What is the height potential of the F₁ progeny of the homozygous plants identified in (a) and (b) of this problem?
- Open QuestionThe following dideoxy DNA sequencing gel is produced in a laboratory.What is the double-stranded DNA sequence of this molecule? Label the polarity of each strand.
- Open Question
Using an illustration style and labeling similar to that in Problem 29, draw the electrophoresis gel containing dideoxy sequencing fragments for the DNA template strand 3'-AGACGATAGCAT-5'.
- Open QuestionA total of 20 men and 20 women volunteer to participate in a statistics project. The height and weight of each subject are given in the table.Draw one histogram for height of the subjects and a separate histogram for weight. Use different colors for men and women so that you can visually compare the distributions by sex and plot weights in 10-lb intervals (i.e., 90–99 lb, 100–109 lb, 110–119 lb, etc.).
- Open QuestionA PCR reaction begins with one double-stranded segment of DNA. How many double-stranded copies of DNA are present after the completion of 10 amplification cycles? After 20 cycles? After 30 cycles?