Multiple choice

How many fragments will be generated if you digest a linear DNA molecule with a restriction enzyme having four recognition sites on the DNA?

  1. 3

  2. 6

  3. 5

  4. 4

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

A given restriction enzyme cuts DNA segments within a specific nucleotide sequence at restriction site. These recognition sequences are typically four, six, eight, ten, or twelve nucleotides long. Because there are only so many ways to arrange the four nucleotides which compose DNA (Adenine, Thymine, Guanine and Cytosine) into a four-to-twelve nucleotide sequence, recognition sequences tend to occur by chance in any long sequence. Five fragments will be generated if we digest a linear DNA molecule with a restriction enzyme having four recognition sites on the DNA.