What is the significance of adding proteases at the time of isolation of genetic material (DNA)?

Explanation

**Step-by-Step Solution:**

1. **Understanding the Purpose of DNA Isolation**: The primary goal of isolating DNA is to obtain a purified form of genetic material. This purified DNA is essential for various applications in biotechnology and genetic engineering.

2. **Importance of Purity**: For DNA to be useful in experiments and applications, it must be free from contaminants, particularly macromolecules like proteins, lipids, and carbohydrates. The presence of these contaminants can interfere with subsequent processes such as cloning, sequencing, or analysis.

3. **Role of Proteases**: Proteases are enzymes that specifically break down proteins into smaller peptides or amino acids. By adding proteases during the DNA isolation process, we can effectively degrade any proteins that may be associated with the DNA.

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