Lab 6 Restriction Enzymes And Agarose Gel Elextrophoresis

Question 1

Agarose

Answer 1

A polysaccharide obtained from seaweed

Question 2

Restriction enzymes which catalyze the hydrolysis of the sugar phosphate bonds in both strands of DNA . (Means the enzyme cuts In the middle of a DNA molecule, not the end.)

Answer 2

Endonucleases

Question 3

In gel electrophoresis, the phosphate groups in the DNA backbone carry negatively charged oxygens..giving a DNA molecule an overall negative charge. Therefore,

Answer 3

In an electric current, the negatively charged DNA moves towards the positive pole of the electrophoresis chamber.

Question 4

DNA fragments in the lab are able to be separated by size because

Answer 4

The DNA molecules move through the gel by reptation, going through the pores of the agarose matrix. Smaller DNA fragments can go farther faster because of their small size compared to larger fragments

Question 5

The size of DNA can be determined by comparing it to what ?

Answer 5

Markers (DNA fragments of known sizes)