Which is the correct laboratory term for the action of a restriction enzyme?

Correct answer: Restriction digestion

The direct answer is option A: restriction digestion. In laboratory biotechnology, digestion means cutting a DNA molecule with a suitable enzyme. Therefore, when a restriction enzyme cuts DNA at its recognition site, the procedure is called restriction digestion or restriction enzyme digestion. The steps in the idea are simple: first identify the target DNA sequence, then add the matching restriction enzyme under suitable conditions, and finally observe the resulting DNA fragments. Option A is correct because it names this exact laboratory operation. Option B, water distillation, separates substances according to differences in boiling points and is unrelated to cutting DNA. Option C, light emission, describes production or release of light, not enzyme treatment of DNA. Option D, soil mixing, is a physical agricultural activity and has no connection with molecular cloning. Do not confuse digestion here with digestion of food: in molecular biology it means enzyme-controlled cleavage of a molecule. The exact cut may produce blunt ends or sticky ends, depending on the enzyme. Memory cue: restriction digestion means DNA is “digested” by a restriction enzyme, that is, cut at selected sites.