NEETZoologyBiotechnology - Principles and Processes
What are restriction enzymes?
Options
- ANucleases that remove nucleotides from the ends of the DNA
- Bthat make cuts at specific positions within the DNA
- Cthat inspect the length of a DNA sequence
- DNucleases that bind to the DNA and cut each of the two strands of the double helix
Correct answer
B. that make cuts at specific positions within the DNA
Step-by-step solution
Restriction enzymes belong to a larger class of enzymes called nucleases. These are of two kinds; exonucleases and endonucleases. Exonucleases remove nucleotides from the ends of the DNA whereas , endonucleases make cuts at specific positions within the DNA. Each restriction endonuclease functions by ‘inspecting’ the length of a DNA sequence. Once it finds its specific recognition sequence, it will bind to the DNA and cut each of the two strands of the double helix at specific points in their sugar -phosphate backb