What does the term sticky end refer to in genetic engineering?

Answer 1

I tried to show this with actual letters showing the overlap of double strands, but this stupid site does not allow proper spacing and " corrects " capitalization, so I will have to tell you verbally.

When a plasmid or gene section is digested a overhang is created in the double strand that exactly matches the under hang of the other piece of strand.

Answer 2

A sticky end refers to A gene that has been cut, but not straight across. It might have been cut leaving half of the pairing for three nucleotides on so that those nucleotides in that gene could only bond in the specific location you wanted it. Suppose you left an A, G, and C hanging off. That gene could only bond in a location with a T, C, and G hanging off in that order.

Answer 3

When a restriction enzyme cuts DNA, it cuts at places called restriction sites. These sites can be found either parallel to each other on the two-stranded DNA or on opposite sides.

i.e. ACG|TAC

TGC|ATG

Note: "|" indicates a where a restriction site is located and the restriction enzyme will cut. This particular cut leaves what is called a blunt ends.

A Sticky end however looks like this:

i.e. A|CGTAC

TGCAT|G

OR

AC|GTAC

TGCA|TG

Notice how the restriction site is found on opposite sides? This means that there will be exposed nucleotide bases, or "sticky ends."

These sticky ends are important for genetic engineering because they allow for specificity. One example is recombinant DNA. When you want to make a recombinant DNA plasmid, you have to use a restriction enzyme to cut BOTH the plasmid and the chosen DNA fragments that will yield sticky ends. If it yields blunt ends, there is no specificity for that DNA and thus cannot be used.

One example of recombinant DNA is creating a plasmid that has ampicillin resistance.

Answer 4

In genetic engineering, a sticky end refers to the single-stranded overhanging ends of a DNA molecule that are generated by restriction enzymes. These ends can easily base pair with complementary ends from another DNA molecule, facilitating the process of DNA ligation. This feature is often used in techniques such as recombinant DNA technology to insert foreign DNA fragments into a plasmid vector.

Answer 5

If you are referring to Post-It notes or things of that nature. It is used to be placed anywhere if possible and helps you out with many things.

Answer 6

Sticky ends of DNA are when one strand of DNA is longer than the other by a few bases, called overhangs.

these are very important when using many vectors!