Textbook Question
Using the genomic libraries, you wish to clone the human gene encoding myostatin, which is expressed only in muscle cells.
How frequently will a clone representing myostatin be found in the cDNA library made from muscle?
Ch. 15 - Recombinant DNA Technology and Its Applications
Sanders3rd EditionGenetic Analysis: An Integrated ApproachISBN: 9780135564172
Not the one you use?Change textbookSelect a different textbook
Table of contents
- Ch. 1 - The Molecular Basis of Heredity, Variation, and Evolution64
- Ch. 2 - Transmission Genetics144
- Ch. 3 - Cell Division and Chromosome Heredity81
- Ch. 4 - Gene Interaction87
- Ch. 5 - Genetic Linkage and Mapping in Eukaryotes103
- Ch. 6 - Genetic Analysis and Mapping in Bacteria and Bacteriophages73
- Ch. 7 - DNA Structure and Replication71
- Ch. 8 - Molecular Biology of Transcription and RNA Processing79
- Ch. 9 - The Molecular Biology of Translation110
- Ch. 10 - Eukaryotic Chromosome Abnormalities and Molecular Organization100
- Ch. 11 - Gene Mutation, DNA Repair, and Homologous Recombination86
- Ch. 12 - Regulation of Gene Expression in Bacteria and Bacteriophage90
- Ch. 13 - Regulation of Gene Expression in Eukaryotes38
- Ch. 14 - Analysis of Gene Function via Forward Genetics and Reverse Genetics72
- Ch. 15 - Recombinant DNA Technology and Its Applications69
- Ch. 16 - Genomics: Genetics from a Whole-Genome Perspective49
- Ch. 17 - Organelle Inheritance and the Evolution of Organelle Genomes27
- Ch. 18 - Developmental Genetics43
- Ch. 19 - Genetic Analysis of Quantitative Traits66
- Ch. 20 - Population Genetics and Evolution at the Population, Species, and Molecular Levels105
Sanders3rd EditionGenetic Analysis: An Integrated ApproachISBN: 9780135564172Not the one you use?Change textbook
Chapter 15, Problem 5b
Using the genomic libraries, you wish to clone the human gene encoding myostatin, which is expressed only in muscle cells.
How frequently will a clone representing myostatin be found in the genomic library made from brain?
Verified step by step guidance1
Step 1: Understand the problem. The goal is to determine the frequency of finding a clone representing the myostatin gene in a genomic library made from brain cells. Myostatin is expressed only in muscle cells, so its mRNA is not present in brain cells.
Step 2: Recall the difference between genomic libraries and cDNA libraries. A genomic library contains DNA fragments representing the entire genome, including both coding and non-coding regions, regardless of whether the genes are expressed in a specific tissue. A cDNA library, on the other hand, is made from mRNA and represents only the genes expressed in the tissue used to create the library.
Step 3: Note that the genomic library made from brain cells will contain the entire genome of the organism, including the myostatin gene, even though myostatin is not expressed in brain cells. This is because genomic libraries are not dependent on gene expression.
Step 4: Calculate the frequency of finding the myostatin gene in the genomic library. To do this, divide the size of the genome by the average size of the DNA fragments in the library. The formula is: \( \text{Frequency} = \frac{1}{\text{Number of clones in the library}} \), where the number of clones is determined by \( \text{Number of clones} = \frac{\text{Genome size}}{\text{Average fragment size}} \).
Step 5: Substitute the values for genome size and average fragment size into the formula. Ensure that the units are consistent (e.g., base pairs or kilobase pairs). This will give the frequency of finding a clone representing the myostatin gene in the genomic library made from brain cells.
Verified video answer for a similar problem:
This video solution was recommended by our tutors as helpful for the problem above.
Video duration:
2mWas this helpful?
Key Concepts
Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Genomic Libraries
Genomic libraries are collections of DNA fragments that represent the entire genome of an organism. These libraries are created by cloning DNA into vectors, allowing researchers to isolate and study specific genes. The composition of a genomic library can vary depending on the tissue source from which the DNA is extracted, influencing the presence of specific genes, such as myostatin, which is primarily expressed in muscle cells.
Recommended video:
Guided course
02:48
Genomics Overview
Gene Expression
Gene expression refers to the process by which information from a gene is used to synthesize functional gene products, typically proteins. Different genes are expressed in different tissues, meaning that a gene like myostatin, which is specifically expressed in muscle cells, may not be present in significant amounts in a genomic library derived from brain tissue. This differential expression is crucial for understanding the likelihood of finding specific genes in various genomic libraries.
Recommended video:
Guided course
02:09Penetrance and Expressivity
Cloning and Selection
Cloning in genetics involves creating copies of a specific DNA segment, often using vectors to introduce the DNA into host cells. When constructing a genomic library, the selection of clones is based on the presence of specific genes. In the case of myostatin, if the genomic library is derived from brain tissue, the likelihood of finding a clone representing this muscle-specific gene is low, as it is not typically expressed in that tissue.
Recommended video:
Guided course
07:Positional Cloning
Related Practice
Textbook Question
Explain the meaning of 'identity by descent' in the context of identifying genealogical relationship between individuals. In these analyses, why are segments of chromosomes (haplotypes) rather than individual STRs used to identify genetic relationships?
1
views
Textbook Question
You have constructed four different libraries: a genomic library made from DNA isolated from human brain tissue, a genomic library made from DNA isolated from human muscle tissue, a human brain cDNA library, and a human muscle cDNA library.
Would the sequences contained in each library be expected to overlap completely, partially, or not at all with the sequences present in each of the other libraries?
Textbook Question
Using the genomic libraries, you wish to clone the human gene encoding myostatin, which is expressed only in muscle cells.
How frequently will a clone representing myostatin be found in the cDNA library made from brain?
Textbook Question
Using the genomic libraries, you wish to clone the human gene encoding myostatin, which is expressed only in muscle cells.
Assuming the human genome is 3x10⁹ bp and that the average insert size in the genomic libraries is 100 kb, how frequently will a clone representing myostatin be found in the genomic library made from muscle?
Textbook Question
The human genome is 3×10⁹ bp. You wish to design a primer to amplify a specific gene in the genome. In general, what length of oligonucleotide would be sufficient to amplify a single unique sequence? To simplify your calculation, assume that all bases occur with an equal frequency.