Question

Insertional Inactivation is related to
A. Microinjection
B. Gene Gun
C. Gel Electrophoresis
D. Selection of recombinants

Answer 1

Hint: Insertional inactivation prevents an organism from showing certain properties externally which helps to distinguish them from another group of organisms. It is a technique used in recombinant DNA technology.

Complete answer:
Insertional inactivation is a method used in recombinant DNA technology for distinguishing between recombinants and non-recombinant varieties. It helps in the selection of recombinants. It acts as a selectable marker, a recombinant DNA is inserted into the coding sequence of an enzyme which leads to the inactivation of the functions exhibited by that enzyme.

Additional Information:
The recombinant DNA technology is a multistep process, it uses certain tools which are:
- Enzymes- Wide variety of enzymes are required in genetic engineering, these are restriction enzymes, either exonucleases or endonucleases. DNA ligases are used as genetic gum or molecular glue which help is ligation or linking of two DNA strands. Alkaline phosphatase helps to eliminate the phosphate group from the 5’ end of the DNA molecule. DNA polymerases are employed to polymerize DNA replication on the DNA template.
- Cloning Vectors- They cloning vectors carry foreign DNA inside host cells and have the ability to replicate independently. Plasmids, bacteriophage, phagemids, cosmids, bacterial artificial chromosomes (BACs) and yeast artificial chromosomes (YACs) are cloning vectors.
- Competent host- Hosts actively take up the recombinant DNA, they are essential for transformation.

Polymerase Chain Reaction or PCR- is a process used for amplification of the recombinant gene. It is a three-step process including denaturation, annealing, and extension. It has a wide variety of applications like:
- Diagnosis of pathogen
- DNA fingerprinting
- Detection of a specific microorganism
- Prenatal diagnosis
- Gene therapy
- Also on paleontology

So, the correct answer is, selection of recombinants.

Note: Microinjection, gene guns are some methods for direct gene transfer and help with the transformation process. Gel Electrophoresis is used in the separation of small DNA fragments from a larger one but not for the separation of recombinants from non-recombinants.