[Campbell Biology P.825] The text mentions that scientists can "knock out" a specific gene i... | Practice Question

The text mentions that scientists can "knock out" a specific gene in Arabidopsis to garner important information. What is the primary purpose of this technique?

  • A: To increase the agricultural yield of *Arabidopsis* by enhancing desirable traits.
  • B: To determine the normal function of the disrupted gene by observing the resulting phenotypic changes.
  • C: To create a computer-generated "virtual plant" model for visualization.
  • D: To simplify the genome structure of *Arabidopsis* for easier sequencing.

Explanation

The text states that by 'knocking out' a specific gene, scientists can 'garner important information about the gene's normal function'. This implies that observing the changes resulting from the gene's disruption helps determine what the gene normally does.