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PCR genomic fingerprinting was performed using two uniqueprimers which flank mul

ID: 4399 • Letter: P

Question

PCR genomic fingerprinting was performed using two uniqueprimers which flank multiple tandem repeats of very short DNAsequences, located at a unique chromosomal region. PCR analysis ofgenomic DNA from a man produced two bands of size 600 and 580 bp.PCR anaylsis of genomic DNA from his wife produced one band of size568 bp. List and explain all the possible patterns that might beexpected amongst their children. ** I am having trouble understanding how PCR would be applied,so a brief explaination would so be appreciated, thank you. PCR genomic fingerprinting was performed using two uniqueprimers which flank multiple tandem repeats of very short DNAsequences, located at a unique chromosomal region. PCR analysis ofgenomic DNA from a man produced two bands of size 600 and 580 bp.PCR anaylsis of genomic DNA from his wife produced one band of size568 bp. List and explain all the possible patterns that might beexpected amongst their children. ** I am having trouble understanding how PCR would be applied,so a brief explaination would so be appreciated, thank you.

Explanation / Answer

We take the genomes of the parents and cleave them intofragments. This is done separately. Then these fragments are amplified by PCR technique. Then these amplified fragments are run in an electrophoresisgel in separate wells. As the principle of gel electrophoresis is based on charge andsize , we get different fragments at different levels of the gelindicating their differences. This is PCR fingerprinting. So according to the data given, the genome of the fatherproduced 2 fragments---600 and580bp. The analysis of the genome of the mother produced only onefragment of size 568. So the possible patterns of the children will be: 600,568 580,568 AS the fragments of the parents are very few the combinationpresent in the children also will be few. When there are more fragments the unique combinations will bemany.