Who discovered that restriction enzymes have the capability of cutting DNA strands in a particular fashion, which left what has became known as 'sticky ends' on the strands ?

Options

A. Ramdeo Mishra
B. Stanley Cohen
C. Herbert Boyer
D. James D. Watson

Answer

To answer the question about who discovered that restriction enzymes can cut DNA strands in a way that produces 'sticky ends', we can follow these steps:

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Understand Restriction Enzymes**:
- Restriction enzymes are specialized proteins that cut DNA at specific sequences. They are classified into two types: endonucleases (which cut within the DNA strand) and exonucleases (which cut at the ends of the DNA strand).

**Hint**: Remember the difference between endonucleases and exonucleases.

2. **Identify the Origin and Function**:
- These enzymes are prokaryotic in origin and serve as a defense mechanism against bacteriophages (viruses that infect bacteria). For instance, E. coli uses restriction endonucleases to cut viral DNA, protecting itself from viral attacks.

**Hint**: Think about the role of these enzymes in bacterial defense.

3. **Recognize the Specificity of Cuts**:
- Restriction enzymes cut DNA at specific recognition sites, which are often palindromic sequences. This means that the sequence reads the same forwards and backwards on complementary strands.

**Hint**: Consider how the palindromic nature of sequences aids in the recognition by enzymes.

4. **Understand the Concept of Sticky Ends**:
- When restriction enzymes cut DNA, they can create 'sticky ends'—short single-stranded overhangs at the cut sites. These sticky ends can anneal with complementary sticky ends from other DNA fragments, facilitating the process of DNA ligation.

**Hint**: Focus on how sticky ends are formed and their importance in recombinant DNA technology.

5. **Identify the Scientist**:
- The question specifically asks who first demonstrated that restriction enzymes can cut DNA to produce sticky ends. This discovery is attributed to Herbert Boyer, who, along with Stanley Cohen, was instrumental in the development of recombinant DNA technology.

**Hint**: Remember the contributions of Herbert Boyer in the context of restriction enzymes and recombinant DNA.

6. **Select the Correct Answer**:
- Based on the information gathered, the correct answer to the question is **C. Herbert Boyer**.

### Final Answer:
The scientist who discovered that restriction enzymes have the capability of cutting DNA strands in a particular fashion, which left what has become known as 'sticky ends', is **Herbert Boyer**.