Question

What plant was used to study sister chromatid exchange (SCE), and what were the two forms of mutagens used to create the SCE?

a) Corn; ethyl methane sulfonate and ionizing radiation
b) Pea plants; UV radiation and chemical mutagens
c) Onion; alkylating agents and X-rays
d) Tobacco; base analogs and intercalating agents

Answer 1

Onion was used to study sister chromatid exchange (SCE), and the mutagens used were alkylating agents and X-rays, which can cause mutations that potentially lead to genetic diseases or cancer.

Step-by-step explanation:

The plant that was used to study sister chromatid exchange (SCE) is onion, and the two forms of mutagens used to create the SCE were alkylating agents and X-rays. Alkylating agents directly modify DNA by adding alkyl groups to the DNA, which can lead to improper DNA pairing and SCE during DNA replication. On the other hand, X-rays are a form of ionizing radiation that can cause breaks in the DNA, leading to the possibility of SCE when the breaks are repaired. Both of these mutagens have the potential to induce mutations that can lead to genetic diseases or cancer.