Chapter 20: Problem 28
What techniques can scientists use to determine if a particular transgene has been integrated into the genome of an organism?
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Chapter 20: Problem 28
What techniques can scientists use to determine if a particular transgene has been integrated into the genome of an organism?
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The U.S. Department of Justice has established a database that catalogs \(P C R\) amplification products from short tandem repeats of the \(Y\) (Y-SIRs) chromosome 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 worldwide population (a) Given that STRs are repeats of varying lengths, for example \((\mathrm{TCTG})_{9-17}\) or \((\mathrm{TAT})_{6-14}\) explain how PCR could reveal differences (polymorphisms) among individuals. How could the Department of Justice make use of those differences? (b) \(Y-S T R s\) from the nonrecombining region of the \(Y\) chromosome (NRY) have special relevance for forensic purposes. Why? (c) What would be the value of knowing the ethnic population differences for \(Y\) -STR polymorphisms? (d) 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?
The human insulin gene contains a number of sequences that are removed in the processing of the mRNA transcript. In spite of the fact that bacterial cells cannot excise these sequences from mRNA transcripts, explain how a gene like this can be cloned into a bacterial cell and produce insulin.
In this chapter we focused on how specific DNA sequences can be copied, identified, characterized, and sequenced. At the same time, we found many opportunities to consider the methods and reasoning underlying these techniques. From the explanations given in the chapter, what answers would you propose to the following fundamental questions? (a) In a recombinant DNA cloning experiment, how can we determine whether DNA fragments of interest have been incorporated into plasmids and, once host cells are transformed, which cells contain recombinant DNA? (b) When using DNA libraries to clone genes, what combination of techniques are used to identify a particular gene of interest? (c) What steps make \(P C R\) a chain reaction that can produce millions of copies of a specific DNA molecule in a matter of hours without using host cells? (d) How has DNA sequencing technology evolved in response to the emerging needs of genome scientists?
If you performed a PCR experiment starting with only one copy of double- stranded DNA, approximately how many DNA molecules would be present in the reaction tube after 15 cycles of amplification?
Review the Chapter Concepts list on page \(523 .\) All of these refer to recombinant DNA methods and applications. Write a short essay or sketch a diagram that provides an overview of how recombinant DNA techniques help geneticists study genes.
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