Question

Which of the following restriction enzyme produce blunt ends?

• A. Sal I
• B. Eco RV
• C. Xho I
• D. Hind III

Hint:

Blunt-ended fragments are useful in cloning because they can be ligated without requiring specific complementary overhangs.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

Blunt ends are produced when a restriction enzyme cuts both strands of the DNA at the same position, resulting in straight, even ends with no overhangs.

(1) Eco RV:
- Eco RV is a restriction enzyme that cuts DNA to produce blunt ends. It cuts between two adjacent bases, resulting in no sticky overhangs at the ends of the fragments.

(2) Why Other Options Are Incorrect:
- Sal I (Option 1), Xho I (Option 3), and Hind III (Option 4) are examples of restriction enzymes that produce sticky (overhanging) ends, not blunt ends. These enzymes make cuts that leave single-stranded extensions on the ends of the DNA fragment.

Conclusion: The restriction enzyme that produces blunt ends is Eco RV, which cuts DNA symmetrically without generating overhangs.