The scientists used a radioactively labelled DNA probe to show that the cells of tobacco plant leaves contained the SUT1 gene - AQA - A-Level Biology - Question 6 - 2021 - Paper 3
Question 6
The scientists used a radioactively labelled DNA probe to show that the cells of tobacco plant leaves contained the SUT1 gene.
Describe how they would do this.
Do ... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:The scientists used a radioactively labelled DNA probe to show that the cells of tobacco plant leaves contained the SUT1 gene - AQA - A-Level Biology - Question 6 - 2021 - Paper 3
Step 1
Extract DNA and prepare it
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Answer
The scientists would extract DNA from the tobacco plant leaves using a method that might involve homogenization and the use of chemical reagents to break down cellular structures.
Step 2
Digest and separate DNA fragments
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Answer
They would then treat the extracted DNA with restriction enzymes to cut it into smaller fragments. Following digestion, they would perform gel electrophoresis to separate these fragments based on size.
Step 3
Label and hybridize the probe
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A radioactively labelled DNA probe that is complementary to the SUT1 gene would be prepared and used to hybridize with the separated DNA fragments on the gel.
Step 4
Visualize the results
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The probe will bind to its complementary sequence, allowing the scientists to visualize the presence of the SUT1 gene using autoradiography.
