Molecular Techniques
Molecular techniques are methods employed in molecular biology, genetics, biochemistry, and biophysics to manipulate and analyze nucleic acids (deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and ribonucleic acid (RNA)), protein, and lipids. Techniques in molecular biology are employed to investigate the molecular basis for biological activity. These techniques are used to analyze cellular properties, structures, and chemical reactions, with a focus on how certain molecules regulate cellular reactions and growth.
DNA Fingerprinting and Gel Electrophoresis
The genetic makeup of living organisms is shown by a technique known as DNA fingerprinting. The difference is the satellite region of DNA is shown by this process. Alex Jeffreys has invented the process of DNA fingerprinting in 1985. Any biological samples such as blood, hair, saliva, semen can be used for DNA fingerprinting. DNA fingerprinting is also known as DNA profiling or molecular fingerprinting.
Molecular Markers
A known DNA sequence or gene sequence is present on a chromosome, and it is associated with a specific trait or character. It is mainly used as a genetic marker of the molecular marker. The first genetic map was done in a fruit fly, using genes as the first marker. In two categories, molecular markers are classified, classical marker and a DNA marker. A molecular marker is also known as a genetic marker.
DNA Sequencing
The most important feature of DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) molecules are nucleotide sequences and the identification of genes and their activities. This the reason why scientists have been working to determine the sequences of pieces of DNA covered under the genomic field. The primary objective of the Human Genome Project was to determine the nucleotide sequence of the entire human nuclear genome. DNA sequencing selectively eliminates the introns leading to only exome sequencing that allows proteins coding.
Amoebic keratitis is a rare eye infection associated with the use of soft contact lenses. The infection occurs when certain types of amoebas gain entry into the eye through the use of contaminated contact lenses. Medical researchers have used a restriction enzyme digest to characterize the type of amoeba found in patients with amoebic keratitis. These researchers extracted the mitochondrial DNA from infection-causing amoebas and digested, or cut, the DNA with a restriction enzyme. They found that, when visualized using DNA gel electrophoresis, the cut samples contained five bands of the following sizes: roughly 4,200 base pairs (bp), 5,500 bp, 6,500 bp, 9,300 bp, and 10,500 bp. To determine the prevalence of infection-causing amoebas in a certain region, researchers obtained samples from contact lens cases in a representative set of households. The researchers isolated the amoebas present in each sample, then used the protocol described above to view the DNA banding patterns of the amoeba’s digested DNA. Based on the data shown below, which of the sample contains amoebas that can cause amoebic keratitis?
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