Genetic techniques- Module 6 Flashcards
Primers-
short pieces of DNA complementary to the bases at the start of the fragment of DNA needed
Taq polymerase-
enzyme that creates new DNA strands. It is thermostable so it doesn’t denature at high temperatures.
stAGE 1 OF pcr (DENATURING)
DNA mixture is heated to 95oC to break the hydrogen bonds between the two strands of DNA (they uncoil).
stAGE 2 OF pcr (Annealing)
The mixture is then cooled to 50-65oC so that the primers can bind (anneal) to the strands. to recognise target DNA
stAGE 3 OF pcr (Elongation)
The reaction mixture is now heated to 72oC, (optimum for DNA polymerase).
Taq polymerase forms phosphodiester bonds between DNA nucleotides alongside each template strand. Complementary strands of DNA are built up by complementary base pairing.
_____ new copies of the fragment of DNA are formed in the first cycle of PCR.
Two
The cycle starts again with all _____strands being used (two original and two new). Therefore, the amount of DNA ______ with each cycle.
four
doubles with each cycle.
Reaction mixture is set up containing:
Reaction mixture is set up containing the DNA sample, buffer solution, free nucleotides, primers (short pieces of DNA complementary to the bases at the start of the fragment) and DNA polymerase (taq polymerase)
What do restriction enzymes do?
recognise specific palindromic sequences (aka recognition sequences) and cut the DNA at these places `
Example of restrition enzymes
EcoRI cuts at GAATTC
HindIII cuts at AAGCTT
what is a palindromic sequence
consist of antiparallel base pairs (base PAIRS that read the same in opposite direction
what is another name for a restriction enzyme
Restriction endonucleases
What is a sticky end
Unpaired (single stranded DNA) bases at either end of the cut fragment
why are sticky ends useful
Allow DNA to anneal with other piece of DNA
Why might you have to incubate DNA with two different restriction enzymes?
If desired fragment has different restriction sites either side of it
DNA sequencing
technique where we can map out the base sequence of an individuals genome
another name for chain termination method
Sanger method
chain termination method
Process
1)DNA can be sequenced using the chain termination method.
2)Four tubes are needed which contain the single stranded DNA template, DNA polymerase, DNA primers and free nucleotides (A, T, C and G).
3)Each separate tube also contains a different fluorescently tagged nucleotide (A, T C or G). If this is added to the DNA chain, no other bases can be added after it.
4)All the tubes go through PCR.
5)This produces lots of DNA strands of different lengths, because the fluorescently tagged bases were added at different points.
6)The DNA fragments are separated by electrophoresis.
7)The gel is viewed under a UV light and the complementary base sequence can be read from the gel.
8)The smallest polynucleotide travels the furthest, so the sequence is read from the bottom of the gel to the top.
problems with chain termination method
(-) slow- can only sequence fragments shorter than 1000 base pairs (usually 750)
(-) Expensive, would have to split up longer sequences and run them many times
Automated DNA sequencing
The chain termination method has now become automated and faster.
Tubes are still used that contain the modified nucleotides, each with a different coloured fluorescent label but a machine now reads the sequence instead of running the gel through electrophoresis.