Enzymes in Molecular Biology

Question 1

define polymerase

Answer 1

an enzyme that creates polymers of nucleic acids like RNA and DNA based on a template

Question 2

what are nucleases

Answer 2

an enzyme that can cleave the phosphodiester bonds in nucleotide subunits of nucleic acids
can be either endonucleases (works internally) or exonucleases (works externally)

Question 3

what are nucleases used for in vivo and in vitro

Answer 3

in vivo - DNA repair and cell death
in vitro - nucleic acids digests

Question 4

what are ligases

Answer 4

join DNA strands together by catalysing the formation of a phosphodiester bond
can join one strand into a loop, or join either ends of two strands together

Question 5

what are ligases used for in vivo and in vitro

Answer 5

in vivo- DNA replication, DNA repair
in vitro - cloning