logo
Products
Technologies
Applications
Services
Resources
Selection Guides
About
Which enzyme is commonly called a molecular scissor?
Posted July 6, 2023

Answer

Restriction enzymes are commonly called molecular scissors. This is because of their ability to cut DNA at or near specific recognition sites known as restriction sites. 

There are two types of molecular scissors – endonucleases and exonucleases. Endonucleases make cuts at specific sites within the DNA, while exonucleases cleave the ends of the DNA.