You are running your own lab and one of your primary research topics focuses on

Question

You are running your own lab and one of your primary research topics focuses on corn and carbon allocation in seeds (kernels). Your previous research suggests that seeds with high oil content have low starch content and those with high starch with low oils. A similar correlation has been discovered in the closely related species of wheat and a single transcription factor (gene) in wheat is implicated as being responsible. Expression of the transcription factor in wheat results in 100% seeds with high starch. Lack of expression of the transcription factor in wheat results in 100% seed with high oil content. You suspect that carbon allocation in corn kernels utilizes the same mechanism/pathway as that of wheat. How would you go about finding out 1) whether corn has a highly similar transcription factor, 2) obtaining the DNA sequence of that factor, and 3) turning off the gene in corn to see if those plants always produce high oil/low starch seeds? (Note, the genomes of Wheat and Corn are readily available in NCBI databases).

Explanation / Answer

Transcription factor can be compared using bioinformatcs tools as per avaialibility of sequences.

Turning off or knocking out the gene is the best way to find out the effect of that particualr gene hence this option always prevails as one of the best option.

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