MHT CET Medical202622 April 2026Morning ShiftBiologyMolecular Basis of InheritanceActual
Which one of the following is INCORRECT about DNA fingerprinting?
Options
- AEvery person shows an unusual sequence of 20-100 base pairs of DNA which are repeated several times and called
- BThe length of the regions having VNTRs is different in each individual.
- CBy using restriction enzymes, the DNA is cut into fragments of equal length.
- DWhen placed on agarose gel, these fragments which are negatively charged move towards the positive pole.
Correct answer
C. By using restriction enzymes, the DNA is cut into fragments of equal length.
Step-by-step solution
DNA fingerprinting relies on the variation in the length of DNA fragments produced by restriction enzymes. Restriction enzymes cut DNA at specific recognition sequences. Because the number of tandem repeats (VNTRs) between these recognition sites varies from person to person, the fragments produced are of unequal lengths. This phenomenon is known as Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (RFLP). Therefore, the statement that DNA is cut into fragments of equal length is incorrect. The other statements are correct: