Question

What molecular tools do scissors and tape represent in this activity?

A) Scissors represent DNA replication.
B) Scissors represent RNA transcription.
C) Scissors represent restriction enzymes.
D) Tape represents gene splicing.

Answer 1

In the given activity, scissors symbolize restriction enzymes that cut DNA at specific sites, while tape symbolizes DNA ligase, an enzyme that joins DNA fragments in stable structures.

Step-by-step explanation:

The molecular tools scissors and tape represent in this activity are related to the processes involved in DNA manipulation and recombinant DNA technology. Scissors represent restriction enzymes, which are used to cut DNA at specific sites.

Typically, these enzymes recognize specific DNA sequences, often palindromic, and make a precise cut, which can either result in "blunt ends" or "sticky ends" due to the staggered manner in which the DNA is cut. Tape represents DNA ligase, an enzyme that facilitates the joining of DNA fragments. It creates a stable DNA molecule by "sticking" the ends together, a key step in processes like DNA replication, repair, and recombination.