Question

In order to manipulate DNA, scientists have found a way to cut a DNA segment using enzymes. The enzyme cuts DNA wherever the sequence C-T-A-A-G-T occurs between the G and T bases. How many fragments of DNA would you have if an enzyme cut the following sequence: G-T-T-C-T-A-A-G-T-A-A-C-A-C-T-A-A-G-T-T-A-G
Responses

1 fragment
1 fragment

2 fragments
2 fragments

3 fragments
3 fragments

4 fragments

Answer 1

To determine how many fragments of DNA would result from cutting the given sequence using the enzyme that recognizes the sequence C-T-A-A-G-T, we first need to locate the occurrence of this specific sequence in the provided DNA segment.

The sequence is: **G-T-T-C-T-A-A-G-T-A-A-C-A-C-T-A-A-G-T-T-A-G**

1. We need to find the occurrences of "C-T-A-A-G-T".
2. Let's examine the sequence step by step.

- Starting from the beginning of the sequence, we notice:
- **G-T-T** (not a match)
- **C-T-A-A-G-T** (first match found at position 4-10)
- **T-A-A-C-A-C** (not a match)
- **T-A-A-G-T** (second match found at position 21-27)

Now we summarize the matches:
1. The first match at position 4 (C-T-A-A-G-T) will cut the DNA, resulting in two fragments: everything before the match and everything after it.
2. The second match at position 21 (C-T-A-A-G-T) will again cut the resulting sequence, producing yet another fragment.

When we have two cut points, we end up creating three separate fragments.

Thus, the answer is **3 fragments**.