Differences in DNA sequence on homologous chromosomes that yield distinct restriction fragment patterns are called what?

Differences in DNA sequence on homologous chromosomes that yield distinct restriction fragment patterns are called what?

• A. Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs)
• B. Chromosomal Aberrations
• C. Gene Duplications
• D. Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphisms (RFLPs)

Answer: (D)

Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphisms are differences between homologous chromosomes that change how restriction enzymes cut DNA, producing different fragment lengths after digestion. When a DNA sequence has a variation, such as a SNP, it can create or abolish a restriction site. If one chromosome allele has the site and the other does not, cutting with a specific enzyme yields distinct sets of fragments from each allele. In a heterozygote, you’d see two different fragment patterns on a gel, reflecting both alleles. This specific pattern change after restriction digestion is what defines an RFLP. This differs from a single nucleotide polymorphism by itself, which is just one base difference and may or may not affect a restriction site. It also differs from chromosomal aberrations, which are large-scale structural changes, and from gene duplications, which involve extra copies of a gene. RFLPs focus on how sequence variation alters restriction sites and fragment lengths.

Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphisms are differences between homologous chromosomes that change how restriction enzymes cut DNA, producing different fragment lengths after digestion. When a DNA sequence has a variation, such as a SNP, it can create or abolish a restriction site. If one chromosome allele has the site and the other does not, cutting with a specific enzyme yields distinct sets of fragments from each allele. In a heterozygote, you’d see two different fragment patterns on a gel, reflecting both alleles. This specific pattern change after restriction digestion is what defines an RFLP.

This differs from a single nucleotide polymorphism by itself, which is just one base difference and may or may not affect a restriction site. It also differs from chromosomal aberrations, which are large-scale structural changes, and from gene duplications, which involve extra copies of a gene. RFLPs focus on how sequence variation alters restriction sites and fragment lengths.