A) Viruses are able to inject their DNA into another organism to infect it. However, many bacteria have developed restriction enzymes to work as a defense mechanism. Restriction enzymes cut specific base pairs of DNA. We can use this process to our advantage as a way to observe DNA. Through agarose gel electrophoresis, where the DNA segments are put into gel which is placed in a buffer solution. When we apply a current through the solution, the DNA separates. This is because the DNA has an overall negative charge, and thus is attracted to the negative side of the slab. This will separate the DNA segments by size because the smaller ones travel further.
B) The ability to isolate and indentify DNA has incredible utility in the real world. For example, in crime scenes, using human remains we can indentify whose they are. We can also study the differences between healthy and cancerous patients by comparing their DNA. Or study the DNA of a species or population.
Procedure: There are five suspects to a crime that has been committed. We must find out who committed the crime. We must mix samples of DNA with the restriction enzyme mix. The incubate the samples in 37 degrees Celsius water. Then centrifuge the samples in an agarose gel in the electrophoresis apparatus. Then place the samples in the gel and run the electrophoresis for 30 minutes.
Results: Chloe committed the crime.
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