Restriction Enzymes & Gel Electrophoresis Flashcards Preview

AP Biology 2014 > Restriction Enzymes & Gel Electrophoresis > Flashcards

Flashcards in Restriction Enzymes & Gel Electrophoresis Deck (6)
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1
Q

What is a Restriction Enzyme (a.k.a. Restriction Endonucleases)?

A
  • Restriction enzymes are enzymes used to cut up DNA.
  • They cut DNA in a staggered format meaning fragments are produced where one strand of the DNA extends beyond the complementary strand.
  • The unpaired extension of the cut strand of DNA is called a sticky end.
2
Q

Restriction Sites

A

Restriction sites are specific regions in nucleotides cut by restriction enzymes in the DNA.

3
Q

What is Gel Electrophoresis?

A

Gel electrophoresis is a procedure that separates restriction fragments.

4
Q

What is the Gel Electrophoresis procedure like?

A
  • In this procedure, DNA fragments of different lengths are separated as they diffuse through a gelatinous material under the influence of an electric field.
  • Since DNA is negatively charged (because of the attached phosphate groups), the DNA fragments move toward the positive electrode.
  • Short DNA fragments migrate further through the gel than longer and heavier ones.
5
Q

What are RFLPs?

A

RFLPs (Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphisms), is just another term to refer to restriction fragments, which are essentially DNA fragments.

6
Q

What is Gel Electrophoresis used for?

A

Gel Electrophoresis is often sed to compare DNA fragments of closely related species in an effort to determine evolutionary relationships.