Question

Which of the following is an application of transposon tagging?

a)To test if a transposon in replicative.
b)As a tool to clone novel genes.
c)To track the movement of transposons between species.
d)To inactivate transposons in a genome.

Answer 1

Option (b), Transposon tagging is a method used to clone novel genes by leveraging transposons' ability to insert into the genome and disrupt nearby genes.

Step-by-step explanation:

An application of transposon tagging is to clone novel genes, which is described as option b. This technique uses the random insertion of transposons, or 'jumping genes,' into the genome, which can disrupt or activate nearby genes. The disrupted gene can then be identified and cloned using the transposon DNA as a tag. This method is especially useful in organisms where genetic tools are limited or when the targeted phenotype for study is poorly understood.

Transposon tagging is also pertinent for genome mapping, which assists in understanding the functions of specific genes and proteins, their associated phenotypes, and in tracing disease pedigrees in humans as well as the movement of transposons among plants.

Genomic research often utilizes transposons for their ability to mobilize and carry additional genetic material, such as antibiotic resistance genes. This highlights the adaptive value of transposons in the natural environment and their role in genetic diversity and evolution.