Read the following passage carefully.
Restriction enzyme
Restriction enzymes cut the strand of DNA a little away from the center of the palindrome sites, but between the same two bases on the opposite strands. This leaves single stranded portions at the ends. There are overhanging stretches called sticky ends on each strand. These are named so because they form hydrogen bonds with their complementary cut counterparts. This stickiness of the ends facilitates the action of the enzyme DNA ligase. The word palindromes refer to group of letters that forms the same words when read both forward and backward. Restriction endonucleases are used in genetic engineering as molecular scissors.
Which bond forms on sticky end of each strand?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → Hydrogen bond
A restriction enzyme leaves short single-stranded overhangs, the sticky ends. Their bases pair with the complementary bases of another cut end, and base pairs are held by hydrogen bonds (A with T, G with C). That is why the ends are called sticky.
Option (2) Hydrogen bond — Correct. The sticky ends form hydrogen bonds with their complementary cut counterparts.
Note: The passage is taken from NCERT. NTA has put lines of the NCERT text together to make it. Most CUET (UG) questions come straight from NCERT, so study the book line by line, including figures and their titles.