Question

In a control experiment, a plasmid containing a HindIII recognition sequence within a kanamycin resistance gene is cut with HindIII, religated, and used to transform E.coli K12 cells. Kanamycin-resistant colonies are selected, and plasmid DNA from these colonies is subjected to electrophoresis. Most of the colonies contain plasmids that produce single bands that migrate at the same rate as the original intact plasmid. A few colonies, however, produce two bands, one of original size and one that migrates much higher in the gel. Propose the origin of this slow band as a product of ligation.

Answer 1

Answer:

The origin could be a different DNA plasmid.

Explanation:

The band that migrates at a slow rate is probably a full plasmid that is selected in a few kanamycin-resistant colonies. However there is a possibility that some plasmids that were religated after the cut with Hind III produced some ligations of more than one plasmid creating a double resistance plasmid, for instance.