Question

in this experiment, how is kanamycin resistance a selectable marker? (select all of the correct answers) question 2answer a. kanamycin plates prevent growth of kanamycin sensitive cells. cross out b. kanamycin plates prevent growth of untransformed competent cells. cross out c. kanamycin feeds the growth of cells deficient in kanamycin production. cross out d. kanamycin increases cell division, selecting for more growth.

Answer 1

Kanamycin resistance acts as a selectable marker by allowing only those bacteria that have taken up a plasmid bearing the resistance gene to grow on media containing kanamycin, effectively selecting for transformed cells.

Step-by-step explanation:

In an experiment involving bacterial transformation, kanamycin resistance can serve as a selectable marker in a few ways. When a transformation experiment is conducted, bacteria are typically exposed to a plasmid containing an antibiotic resistance gene. Those bacteria that successfully uptake the plasmid will express the resistance gene and therefore be able to grow on media containing the antibiotic. Specifically, kanamycin plates are used to prevent the growth of kanamycin-sensitive cells, including cells that did not undergo transformation, often referred to as untransformed or non-transformed cells. It's important to note that kanamycin does not 'feed' cells or promote cell division, but rather allows for the selection of cells that have acquired the resistance through successful uptake of the plasmid.

By using the kanamycin or another antibiotic resistance gene, colonies that grow on the antibiotic-containing media can be presumed to contain the plasmid. This is a straightforward method to differentiate between transformed and non-transformed cells without having to assess each cell individually, thus streamlining the screening process in transformation experiments.