Question

Which pair of primers would you use to amplify the given double-stranded DNA sequence using PCR?

a) Forward primer: 5'-GGTGATCGGAGCTACGTAGG-3', Reverse primer: 5'-CAATGTGCCTATCCGTAATTGC-3'

b) Forward primer: 5'-GCTACGTAGGCACGGCATTAC-3', Reverse primer: 5'-CAATGTGCCTATCCGTAATTGC-3'

c) Forward primer: 5'-GGTGATCGGAGCTACGTAGG-3', Reverse primer: 5'-TAATGCCTATCCGTGTAATGC-3'

d) Forward primer: 5'-CAATGTGCCTATCCGTAATTGC-3', Reverse primer: 5'-GGTGATCGGAGCTACGTAGG-3'

e) Forward primer: 5'-TAATGCCTATCCGTGTAATGC-3', Reverse primer: 5'-GGTGATCGGAGCTACGTAGG-3'

Answer 1

To amplify a given double-stranded DNA sequence using PCR, one needs primers that are complementary to the target sequences on opposite strands of the DNA. The appropriate primers in the provided options are found in option c), consisting of a forward and reverse primer that are reverse complements to their target DNA strands.

Step-by-step explanation:

To determine which pair of primers would amplify a given double-stranded DNA sequence using PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction), one must find primers that match the ends of the desired DNA fragment and are complementary to the target sequences on opposite strands of the DNA. The primers should be in the 5' to 3' direction relative to their target strands and should flank the region to be amplified.

Unlike the other options provided, the pair of primers in option c) consists of a forward primer (5'-GGTGATCGGAGCTACGTAGG-3') and a reverse primer (5'-TAATGCCTATCCGTGTAATGC-3') which are reverse complements of their respective target sequences on the DNA template. This means that the forward primer will anneal to the 3' end of one strand of DNA, and the reverse primer will anneal to the 5' end of the complementary strand, thus allowing for the amplification of the region between them in the PCR process.