Biology / Unit 7 Bio 1531 short lesson, about 20 seconds
Restriction Endonucleases and Sticky Ends
Captions available
The idea
A restriction endonuclease recognizes a specific DNA sequence and cuts both strands there, often leaving short single-stranded overhangs called sticky ends.
In practice
A restriction endonuclease cutting at a four-base recognition sequence leaves two fragments, each with a complementary single-stranded overhang.
Where people slip
A restriction endonuclease cuts only at its own recognition sequence — different enzymes recognize different sequences and cannot substitute for one another.
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