Multiple choice

Restriction enzymes that produce staggered cuts known as “sticky ends” are useful because

  1. sticky ends stick to almost anything

  2. sticky ends allow fragment ends to reanneal, which is usually desirable

  3. DNA fragments, cut with the same enzyme, can anneal to each other

  4. staggered cuts won't join with other DNA fragments regardless of how they were cut

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

Sticky ends are complementary single-stranded overhangs created when restriction enzymes make staggered cuts. When DNA fragments are cut with the same enzyme, they produce identical sticky ends that can anneal through base pairing. This allows DNA ligase to join the fragments covalently, forming recombinant DNA molecules.

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