Recombinant DNA are DNA molecules that have DNA fragments derived from two or more sources, usually from different species.
THE molecular cloning it is the central technique of the recombinant DNA methodology and consists of the transfer of a gene from one organism to another, that is, the recombination of DNA from different sources.
Recombinant DNA Technology
The procedure usually involves the isolation of a human gene with therapeutic potential (eg. insulin) and the introduction of that gene into an animal, bacterial or yeast cell.
Through the use of proteins called restriction enzymes, individual genes are isolated from human DNA and inserted into small pieces of DNA cut with the same enzyme, called plasmids.
The recombinant plasmid is then inserted into an animal, bacterial or yeast cell, in a process called transformation.
Drug resistance genes, which are also found on the plasmid, select transformed cells from non-transformed ones.
A pure population of recombinant cells is then established through the process of
cloning, where a single selected cell will give rise to a population of clones.At the end of the process, all resulting cells are expected to contain a copy of the plasmid carrying the inserted human gene.
After the gene and cloned cell are inserted, the cells are then induced to express the human gene.
Applications of Recombinant DNA Technology
- Production of useful substances such as human insulin, growth hormone, vaccines, industrial enzymes;
- Study of gene replication and expression mechanisms;
- paternity investigation;
- Diagnosis of genetic and infectious diseases;
- gene therapy;
- Transgenics.
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