Question

Can I combine a fragment of bacterial DNA cut with Hind III and a fragment of monkey DNA cut with Sma I? Why or why not?

Answer 1

Theoretically, yes, but difficult...

Explanation:

HinD III cuts 6-BP recognition sites:

5'-A`color(red)|`AGCTT-3'
3'-TTCGA`color(red)|`A-5'

leaving "sticky ends".

SMa1 also cuts 6 BP sites, but produces blunt ends:

5'-CCC`color(red)|`GGG-3'
3'-GGG`color(red)|`CCC-5'

Blunt ends can also be glued, but you would need to "fill in the gap" on the "sticky ends".

I know it has been done, as one of my colleagues did it, but it wasn't easy and prone to errors.
Also, the yield (success rate) is much lower than with sticky ends...