[jena]

Hi

My Question deals with this scenario:

You perform an experiment in which nuclear material(chromatin) is isolated from what appears to be a martian cells. You briefly digested with micrococcal nuclease. When the chromatin proteins are removed and the resulting purified DNA is analyzed by gel electrophoresis, you observe a series of DNA fragments that are multiples of 410 base pairs in length (i.e, 410 bp, 820 bp, etc)

Question
So what do you think this data means?

My Answer
The data suggests that the martian cell is similar to that of a eurkaryotic being, with the exception that the eukaryotic being has 200 base pairs.


Is this answer anywhere near being correct or do I need look more in depth. I really lost.

Thank You

[Mitch]

Where does micrococcal nuclease cut?

[jena]

The micrococcal nuclease cuts multiples of 410 base pairs.

Maybe, the data means that since the martian cell contains a chromatin protein to protect it from being eaten up micrococcal nuclease then at every 410 base pair we can see the DNA.

Is this a possible conclusion?

Thank You

[Dude]

http://www.fermentas.com/profiles/modifyingenzymes/pdf/microcnucl0181.pdf


As a start, you should probably follow up on Mitch's question in more detail.  You could probably infer is that there is an A-T connection every 410 base pairs in the DNA.  There'e probably more information to be obtained.