DNA Fingerprinting Questions
1. What is the role of restriction enzymes in this lab? What is their role in nature?
2. Why is the centrifugation step before incubation important?
3. What purpose does the incubation period serve?
4. Predict what will happen if you use 0.03 grams of agarose instead of 0.3 grams.
5. What is the function of the comb?
6. Predict the result of placing the wells at the positive (red) end of the electrophoresis box
rather than the negative (black) end. Explain your prediction.
7. Indicate the function of each of the following reagents in this experiment:
a. TBE/electrophoresis buffer
b. Loading dye
c. Molecular weight marker
d. DNA stain (methylene blue or SyBrSafe)
8. Describe the overall purpose of gel electrophoresis.
Copyright © 2007 MassBioEd
Analysis
1. Use the diagram below to:
a. Record the location of your samples.
b. Sketch the results from your gel.
1
2
3
4
5
Wells
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
2. Does the suspect’s DNA match the DNA found at the crime scene? Did the suspect
commit the crime? Can you be sure?
3. What was the reason for including the uncut DNA in the gel electrophoresis?
Copyright © 2007 MassBioEd