NEETZoologyBiotechnology - Principles and Processes
What is the outcome of spreading transformed cells on agar plates containing an antibiotic?
Options
- ABoth transformed and untransformed cells will grow
- BOnly untransformed cells will grow
- COnly transformed cells will grow
- DNeither transformed nor untransformed cells will grow
Correct answer
C. Only transformed cells will grow
Step-by-step solution
There are several methods of introducing the ligated DNA into recipient cells. Recipient cells after making them ‘competent’ to receive, take up DNA present in its surrounding. So, if a recombinant DNA bearing gene for resistance to an antibiotic (e.g., ampicillin) is transferred into E. colicells, the host cells become transformed into ampicillin-resistant cells . If we spread the transformed cells on agar plates containing ampicillin, only transformants will grow, untransformed recipient cells will die. Since, du