Question

You have constructed a DNA probe using the amino acid sequence of insulin ( a short piece of DNA carrying a label, such as radioactivity , which can hybridize with your target DNA ) to find your target gene. Explain your probe is a. single strand or double strand, and why . B. which part of the gene (intron, exon, promoter, etc..) is this probe binding to .

Answer 1

The central dogma of life:

DNA ------> RNA -----> Protein

DNA ------> DNA: Replication: It is mediated by DNA polymerase

DNA ------> RNA: Transcription: It is mediated by RNA polymerase

RNA -----> Protein: Translation: It is mediated by the ribosome, tRNA, and amino acids.

In a human cell, DNA serves as the genetic material. It contains all the information for the proper growth and development of the cell. DNA codes for RNA which contains coding information to specify a protein sequence. A protein is the structural and functional component of a cell.

It is given that a probe is synthesized by reverse translating the amino acid sequence.

i. A probe is always a single-stranded nucleic acid sequence. It binds to its complementary sequence during hybridization.

ii. Since the probe is synthesized by reverse translating the amino acid sequence and the amino acid sequence is dictated solely by exons, the probe can bind only to exonic sequences.

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