Textbook Question
What purpose do the bla and lacZ genes serve in the plasmid vector pUC18?
Ch. 15 - Recombinant DNA Technology and Its Applications
Sanders3rd EditionGenetic Analysis: An Integrated ApproachISBN: 9780135564172
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Table of contents
- Ch. 1 - The Molecular Basis of Heredity, Variation, and Evolution64
- Ch. 2 - Transmission Genetics144
- Ch. 3 - Cell Division and Chromosome Heredity81
- Ch. 4 - Gene Interaction87
- Ch. 5 - Genetic Linkage and Mapping in Eukaryotes103
- Ch. 6 - Genetic Analysis and Mapping in Bacteria and Bacteriophages73
- Ch. 7 - DNA Structure and Replication71
- Ch. 8 - Molecular Biology of Transcription and RNA Processing79
- Ch. 9 - The Molecular Biology of Translation110
- Ch. 10 - Eukaryotic Chromosome Abnormalities and Molecular Organization100
- Ch. 11 - Gene Mutation, DNA Repair, and Homologous Recombination86
- Ch. 12 - Regulation of Gene Expression in Bacteria and Bacteriophage90
- Ch. 13 - Regulation of Gene Expression in Eukaryotes38
- Ch. 14 - Analysis of Gene Function via Forward Genetics and Reverse Genetics72
- Ch. 15 - Recombinant DNA Technology and Its Applications69
- Ch. 16 - Genomics: Genetics from a Whole-Genome Perspective49
- Ch. 17 - Organelle Inheritance and the Evolution of Organelle Genomes27
- Ch. 18 - Developmental Genetics43
- Ch. 19 - Genetic Analysis of Quantitative Traits66
- Ch. 20 - Population Genetics and Evolution at the Population, Species, and Molecular Levels105
Sanders3rd EditionGenetic Analysis: An Integrated ApproachISBN: 9780135564172Not the one you use?Change textbook
Chapter 15, Problem E.1
What is CODIS? Describe the four most important features of genetic markers used in this system.
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Understand that CODIS stands for the Combined DNA Index System, which is a forensic DNA database used by law enforcement to identify individuals based on their genetic profiles.
Recognize that CODIS uses specific genetic markers called Short Tandem Repeats (STRs), which are highly variable regions in the human genome useful for distinguishing individuals.
Identify the four most important features of genetic markers used in CODIS: (1) High polymorphism, meaning many different alleles exist at each marker locus, increasing discrimination power; (2) Mendelian inheritance, ensuring predictable transmission from parents to offspring; (3) Independence, meaning markers are located on different chromosomes or far apart to avoid linkage; (4) Stability, indicating that the markers do not change significantly over generations or due to environmental factors.
Explain why each feature is critical: High polymorphism allows for unique identification, Mendelian inheritance ensures reliable genetic relationships, independence prevents correlated markers that reduce statistical power, and stability guarantees consistent results across samples and time.
Summarize that these features together make CODIS markers effective for forensic identification, paternity testing, and criminal investigations.
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Key Concepts
Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
CODIS (Combined DNA Index System)
CODIS is a forensic DNA database system used by law enforcement to store and compare DNA profiles. It helps identify individuals by matching DNA samples from crime scenes with known profiles, facilitating criminal investigations and justice.
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Genetic Markers in CODIS
Genetic markers in CODIS are specific DNA sequences used to create unique profiles. These markers are typically short tandem repeats (STRs), which vary greatly among individuals, making them ideal for identification purposes.
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Key Features of Genetic Markers in CODIS
The four important features of genetic markers in CODIS are high polymorphism (many alleles), reproducibility (consistent results), ease of analysis (simple lab techniques), and independence (markers are unlinked to avoid inheritance bias). These ensure accurate and reliable identification.
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Related Practice
Textbook Question
Compare and contrast the terms Paternity Index (PI) and Combined Paternity Index (CPI). How does each contribute to paternity determination?
Textbook Question
The human genome is 3×10⁹ bp in length.
How many fragments would be predicted to result from the complete digestion of the human genome with the following enzymes: Sau3A (˘GATC), BamHI (G˘GATCC), EcoRI (G˘AATTC), and NotI (GC˘GGCCGC)?
Textbook Question
The human genome is 3×10⁹ bp in length.
How would your initial answer change if you knew that the average GC content of the human genome was 40%?