A paleontologist has recovered a bit of tissue from the 400-year-old preserved skin of an extinct dodo (a bird). The researcher would like to compare a specific region of the DNA from the sample with DNA from living birds. Which of the following would be most useful for increasing the amount of dodo DNA available for testing?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is a technique that can amplify a specific region of DNA, even if only a tiny amount of starting material is available. This would be the most useful option for increasing the amount of dodo DNA available for testing. RFLP analysis, electroporation, gel electrophoresis, and Southern blotting are all techniques for analyzing DNA, but they do not increase the amount of DNA available for testing.

A Paleontologist Has Recovered a Bit of Tissue from the 400-Year-Old