Where do restriction enzymes make cuts in DNA?

Correct answer: At or near specific recognition sequences

The governing concept is sequence-specific DNA cleavage by restriction endonucleases. Each restriction enzyme recognizes a particular short DNA sequence, often a palindromic sequence, and cuts the phosphodiester backbone at a defined position within that sequence or close to it. Thus option B is correct. The cut may produce blunt ends or staggered sticky ends, depending on the enzyme and its cleavage pattern. Option A describes a cellular location rather than the molecular site recognized by the enzyme. Options C and D are unrelated because protein coats and ribosomes are not the DNA recognition sites used by restriction enzymes.