Question
Biology Question on Genetics and Evolution
A thermostable DNA polymerase is isolated from:
A
Thermus aquaticus
B
Agrobacterium tumefaciens
C
E. coli
D
Salmonella typhimurium
Answer
Thermus aquaticus
Explanation
Solution
The thermostable DNA polymerase, known as Taq polymerase, is isolated from Thermus aquaticus, a bacterium found in hot springs. Taq polymerase remains stable at high temperatures, making it ideal for use in Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) techniques where repeated cycles of heating are needed to denature DNA. This enzyme’s discovery revolutionized molecular biology by enabling rapid DNA amplification.