Recombinant DNA - Medical Science

Q1:

For gene probes to be useful they must

A be large enough to contain gene-specific sequences

B be labeled in some manner to allow detection

C both (a) and (b)

D none of the above

ANS:C - both (a) and (b)

Gene probe or DNA probe is used by Genetic engineering to search a specific genes. So it should be large enough to contain gene-specific sequences.

The probe has a base sequence complementary to the target sequence and will thus attach to it by base pairing. By labelling the probe with a radioactive isotope it can be identified on subsequent separation and purification.