NEETZoologyBiotechnology - Principles and Processes
Given below are two statements: one is labelled as Assertion (A) and the other is labelled as Reason (R). Assertion (A): During the isolation of genetic material, the macromolecule mixture is treated with ribonuclease and protease, but never with DNase. Reason (R): Ribonuclease and protease remove RNA and proteins respectively, whereas DNase would digest the target DNA molecule. In the light of the above statements,
Options
- ABoth (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A)
- BBoth (A) and (R) are true but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A)
- C(A) is true but (R) is false
- D(A) is false but (R) is true
Correct answer
A. Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A)
Step-by-step solution
In recombinant DNA technology, the goal of the isolation step is to obtain intact, pure DNA. To achieve this, impurities must be removed. The RNA is removed by treatment with ribonuclease, and proteins (like histones) are removed by treatment with protease. This makes the Assertion (A) true. DNase is an enzyme that specifically cleaves and digests DNA. If DNase were added to the mixture, it would destroy the very genetic material being isolated. Thus, it is strictly avoided. This makes the Reason (R) true. Since th