Question

Biolistic (gene gun) is suitable for-
A) Disarming pathogen vector
B) Transformation of plant cell
C) Constructing recombinant DNA by joining with vectors
D) DNA fingerprinting

Answer 1

Biolistics is a method for the delivery of nucleic acid to cells by high-speed particle bombardment. The technique uses nucleic acid-coated particles propelled by a pressurized gun (gene gun) to transfect cells or organelles.

Complete Answer:
The biolistic method is a transformation method used in plants. This method can be used to deliver exogenous DNA, RNA, or protein to cells. DNA is transferred into a plant cell by this process. In this process, cells are bombarded with high-velocity DNA coated micro-particles of heavy metals. Though it can transform any type of cell, looking at the options, the correct answer would be transformation of the plant cell because this process does not involve vectors and is neither related to DNA fingerprinting.
Biolistic transformation integrates a DNA construct into the target cells. Gene constructs may vary in their design depending on the required character of transformation procedure, they typically contain a promoter sequence, terminator sequence, gene of interest, and a reporter gene.
Promoters precede the gene of interest in the DNA construct, they control the magnitude and location of gene expression and function, and they can be designed in a laboratory.
Terminator sequences are necessary for proper gene expression, they are placed after the coding region of the gene of interest in the DNA construct.
A reporter gene is a gene which encoded a selectable marker. It is a common element of DNA constructs and is used to detect properly transformed cells. The selectable marker chosen depends on the organism being transformed. Some additional elements may also be present.

Thus, the correct answer is option B. Transformation of plant cell.

Note: Biolistic gun, also known as the gene gun is used to genetically transform nucleus, plasmids as well as mitochondria. They can be used for transformation of any organism.