The goal of this complementation experiment was to find out if the two different mutations are on the same cistron or on two different cistrons. We know that the mutation T4 rII UV375 is located on cistron B, our objective is therefore to find out whether mutation T4 rII AP211 is located on cistron A or B.
We expected no plaques if both mutations were located in cistron B as complementa-tion would not happen. In contrast, we expected plaques on the plates if one mutation was located on cistron A and the other on cistron B. Hence, if T4 rII AP211 has a mutation located on cistron A we expect plaques and if it’s located on cistron B we do not
Our result shows plaques on the right side of the host lawn, in which T4 rII UV375 was dotted. This indicates complementation. In the dilution 10-1, we see many dots. In the dilution 10-2, we see fewer dots and in the dilution 10-4, we do not see any. On the left side of the plate,…show more content… We can therefore conclude that the mutations in cistron A and cistron B are complementary.
Q 13. How can it be shown that the plaques in this experiment are caused by complementation and not by recombination?
Complementation happens, when two mutants have the ability in combination, to restore a normal phenotype. Lets say mutant 1 have a mutation in gene 1 of a certain pathway and mutant 2 have a mutation in gene 2 of that same pathway. When com-bining their chromosomes, mutant 1’s chromosome will then provide a normal prod-uct of gene 2 and mutant 2’s chromosome a normal product of gene 1. They thereby complement each other.
Recombination forms new combinations of genes by crossovers or if in the laboratory by manipulation of genetic material. If both gene 1 and 2 are located on the same chromosome in the diploid, recombinations between two chromosomes can result in crossovers. The outcome is one chromosome with mutant alleles of both genes and one with wt alleles of both