Restriction Enzyme Digestion: How does it work? Why is it useful?

In this activity related to plant biotechnology, learners use restriction enzymes to cut up DNA from a virus called Bacteriophage λ, a process known as restriction digestion. After overnight digestion, the reaction is stopped by addition of a loading buffer. The DNA fragments are separated by electrophoresis, a process that involves application of an electric field to cause the DNA fragments to migrate into an agarose gel. The gel is then stained with a methylene blue stain to visualize the DNA bands and may be photographed. This lab will help learners understand what a DNA restriction enzyme is and how it works, how to use a micropipette, how to separate DNA using electrophoresis, and how to use a restriction digestion map to identify a sample DNA. This lesson guide includes background information, safety precautions and notes, and questions with answers for learners. For safety reasons, adult supervision is recommended.