Question

Agarose extracted from seaweed finds use in-

• A. Gel electrophoresis
• B. Spectrophotometry
• C. Tissue culture
• D. PCR

Answer 1

The correct option is A

Gel electrophoresis

The correct option is A

Explanation of correct option:

1. Agarose is a polysaccharide prepared from agar which is extracted from marine red algae like Gracilaria and Gelidium.
2. It is made of 3,6-anhydro-L-galactopyranose and D-galactose, obtained from agar after removing agaropectin.
3. Agarose is used in agarose gel electrophoresis to resolve the DNA fragments according to their molecular weight.
4. It is generally used at concentrations between 0.7 to 2%.
5. They are also used as beads in chromatography for the purification of proteins.

Explanation of incorrect option:

Option B

1. Spectrophotometry uses spectrophotometers to measure the intensity of a light beam at different wavelengths of a chemical.
2. The amount of light reflected and absorbed by the material over a specific wavelength when light travels through it is measured.

Option C

1. Tissue culture is a method in which fragments of tissue from an animal or plant are transferred to an artificial environment in which they can continue to survive and function.
2. This is also called micropropagation.
3. Appropriate aeration, aseptic conditions, nutrient medium, and necessary equipment are required for tissue culture.

Option D

1. Polymerase chain reaction, or PCR, is a technique to make many copies of a specific DNA region in vitro (in a test tube rather than an organism).
2. A small amount of genetic material is rapidly amplified which is further analyzed using different techniques.

Final answer:

Agarose extracted from seaweed finds use in gel electrophoresis.