The restriction enzyme EcoRI recognizes a 6 bp (palindromic) sequence. On average, how often
would this enzyme cut a random sequence of DNA? How many times would the enzyme cut the
E. coli genome? (The E. coli genome contains 4.6 x 106 bp).
Solution
There are 4 types of bases so the chances of each base to cut in the sequence is
(1/4) (1/4) (1/4) (1/4) (1/4) (1/4)= (1/4)6 base pairs=1/4096. Now as the DNA sequence is
completely random and we can expect that the enzyme may cut the DNA once every 4096 bases.
Now the E.coli genome contains 4.6 x 106 base pairs of sequence.
Then the cutting site will be in the whole E.coli genome is (4.6*106 /4096)= 1123 times..
General Principles of Intellectual Property: Concepts of Intellectual Proper...
The restriction enzyme EcoRI recognizes a 6 bp (palindromic) sequenc.pdf
1. The restriction enzyme EcoRI recognizes a 6 bp (palindromic) sequence. On average, how often
would this enzyme cut a random sequence of DNA? How many times would the enzyme cut the
E. coli genome? (The E. coli genome contains 4.6 x 106 bp).
Solution
There are 4 types of bases so the chances of each base to cut in the sequence is
(1/4) (1/4) (1/4) (1/4) (1/4) (1/4)= (1/4)6 base pairs=1/4096. Now as the DNA sequence is
completely random and we can expect that the enzyme may cut the DNA once every 4096 bases.
Now the E.coli genome contains 4.6 x 106 base pairs of sequence.
Then the cutting site will be in the whole E.coli genome is (4.6*106 /4096)= 1123 times.
