PCR is normally carried out using the enzyme Taq DNA polymerase. The enzyme wasoriginally extracted from the bacterium Thermus aquaticus. This bacterium was found inMushroom Spring, one of the hot springs in Yellowstone National Park in the USA.Taq DNA polymerase is now obtained from genetically modified Escherichia coli that carriesthe Taq DNA polymerase gene.The optimum temperature of this enzyme is 75 - 80oC.After 40 minutes at 95oC the activity of the enzyme is reduced by half. This means that thehalf-life of this enzyme at 95oC is 40 minutes.(i) Suggest and explain why Taq DNA polymerase is now obtained from geneticallymodified E. coli. [2]

Then try StudyFetch, the AI-powered platform that can answer your questions and teach you more about it!