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Phenotype Of Taster Essay

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The goal of this experiment was achieved because the subject’s genotype for PTC, with a phenotype of taster, was determined using PCR and gel electrophoresis. The genotype was heterozygous dominant (Tt) based on the number of DNA fragments in Figure 1. Therefore, the gel picture matched the prediction and hypothesis that either three or two fragments would be present since the subject was a taster for PTC. The DNA fragment amplified by PCR was about 300 base pairs long, 303 bp to be specific. The enzyme, Fnu4HI, cut the DNA at a restriction site 5’-GCNGC-3.’ Tasters would have a C in the amplified fragment, while non-tasters would have a T. Once the DNA was cut, the fragments created were 200 and or 100 base pairs long if the DNA was from a taster. This is what occurred for the subject as seen in …show more content…

If the DNA was from an individual with a phenotype of non-taster, then the enzyme would not cut it and only a 300 bp fragment would be present, as indicated in lane 3 of Figure 1, thus the genotype for PTC would be recessive (tt). If perhaps, there were only two DNA fragments, 300 and 200 bp long, present and the individual was a taster, then the individual would have a genotype of homozygous dominant (TT).
The results for this particular lab were accurate; however, inaccuracies could arise from contamination of the PCR reagents, a degraded DNA template, incorrect temperatures during PCR, pipetting errors, or mistakes in the preparation of the gel agarose. For instance, if the ethidium bromide were not added to the gel then the results would not be visible under UV light. If the DNA template were degraded then the DNA would not be amplified during PCR, thus there would be no results to observe on the gel. Contaminated PCR

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