Answer to Question #342115 in Molecular Biology for Sam

Question

You discovered that a species of bacteria can break down StyrofoamTM (polystyrene) products due to an

enzyme it produces, polystyrenase. You wish to study the gene that codes for this enzyme.

Polymerase Chain Reaction

After purifying the gDNA extract, you want to isolate and amplify the polystyrenase gene. You perform PCR

using the appropriate gene-targeted primers. What is the purpose of the following PCR components? Answer

briefly but completely.

a. DNA polymerase isolated from Thermus aquaticus

Answer: __________________________________

b. Deoxynucleotide triphosphates (dNTPs)

Answer: __________________________________

c.Forward and reverse primers

Answer:

Answer 1

a) directly participates in the synthesis of DNA strands that are complementary to template molecules at a very high temperature that reaches 97°C;

b) are the main building blocks for the synthesis of DNA molecules;

c) attach to the start codons of antisense and sense chains of template molecules respectively, giving the direction in which DNA polymerase will synthesize DNA chains from dNTPs.