Chapter 15, Problem 2QSDC

Enhancers can occur almost anywhere in DNA and affect the transcription of a gene. Let’s suppose you have a gene cloned on a piece of DNA, and the DNA fragment is $\text{50,000 bp}$ in length. Using cloning methods described in Chapter 21, you can cut out short segments from this $\text{50,000-bp}$ fragment and then reintroduce the smaller fragments into a cell that can express the gene. You would like to know if any enhancers are within the $\text{50,000-bp}$ region that may affect the expression of the gene. Discuss the most efficient strategy you can think of to trim your $\text{50,000-bp}$ fragment, thereby locating enhancers. You can assume that the coding sequence of the gene is in the center of the 50,000-bp fragment and that you can trim the $\text{50,000-bp}$ fragment into any size piece you want using molecular techniques described in Chapter 21.