Session 8

Question 0

Describe DNA hybridisation and appreciate its role in genetic testing

Answer 0

Two single stranded complementary DNA sequences reform hydrogen bonds between the complementary bases to form a double stranded DNA fragment
Southern hybridisation - a single stranded DNA molecule labelled with radioactive or fluorescent tags is used as a probe and can ‘find’ and hybridise with complementary DNA sequences
(With RNA = Northern blotting)

Question 1

Describe the molecular basis of DNA sequencing

Answer 1

Determination of order in which individual nucleotides are linked together to form DNA molecule

Question 2

Discuss the range of molecular techniques that can be used to analyse DNA at the gene and chromosome level

Answer 2

Gene level - restriction analysis, gene cloning, gel electrophoresis, PCR, Southern blotting (hybridisation)
Chromosome level - karyotyping, FISH (chromosome painting), array CGH