"Genetic Technology" on the DAT...what exactly is covered?

[dwd09]

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Are we talking simple sequencing methods, Southern/western/northern blotting, etc...? Or are genomics also fair game?. I've come across sequence tagged sites, restriction maps, chromosome banding pattern maps, and radiation hybrid maps. This is another case where the "look at the guide on the ADA website" advice doesn't really help. Genetic technology is a really broad term, and just how in depth we're required to go is not clear. How do I know I'm not going too much in depth/am too superficial. I'm just asking for advice from previous DAT takers. Somehow I feel that reading Raven's and Campbell's bio cover to cover isn't the best strategy, but that's just based on intuition, and intuition has screwed me over in the past. Thanks!

 

[Vicviper]

I think the most complex technology question I came across on my actual DAT was a general question about PCR, something simple. I didn't have any blott questions, and other than one or two exceptions that I think I've heard about, I think they would explain something complex in the question, and then make you infer something else. If you're strapped on time for studying, I wouldn't worry about it too much.

Just my two cents, good luck!

 

[marcusnasland]

I had some relatively complex genetic technology questions... one question relating to souther blotting, and something relating to cDNA (reverse transcriptase) used in a newer genetic technique (The one with all the dots mapping genomes)... This was the Canadian DAT but i dont think it is much different then the American one.

 

[Vicviper]

Now that I'm thinking of it, I did have a question about using reverse transcriptase I think, but I don't remember the question as being very difficult, or anything that I would have had to previously know. Also, yeah, I did run into DNA matrices, but that was in Reading Comp.

I bet it's a mixed bag for everyone, you may or you may not get questions on it.