Video Transcript
Genes can be synthesized using
bioinformatic and laboratory techniques in “gene machines.” What must be determined before a
gene can be produced this way? (A) The location of the gene in the
organism. (B) The factors that control the
expression of the gene. (C) The quaternary structure of the
protein that codes for the gene. Or (D) the sequence of nucleotide
bases that code for the desired protein.
Genes are segments of DNA that code
for a specific protein. In order for this to happen, the
gene must first be transcribed to form mRNA. This mRNA must then be translated
to form the protein, a sequence of amino acids. To obtain a sequence of amino acids
from the mRNA, groups of three nucleotides, called codons, are translated into
individual amino acids using the genetic code.
A gene machine is a piece of
laboratory equipment that can be programmed to synthesize a gene from a protein
sequence. A computer program can work
backwards converting the amino acid sequence of a protein back into a nucleotide
sequence of DNA. To physically build this DNA
sequence, the gene machine synthesizes short pieces of single-stranded DNA, called
oligonucleotides. Overlapping oligonucleotides are
used to assemble larger pieces of DNA.
Therefore, our correct answer is
(D). In order to synthesize a gene using
a gene machine, you must first determine the sequence of nucleotide bases that code
for the desired protein.
