They are DNA molecules produced from the combination of DNA sequences from different sources.
The central technique of recombinant DNA methodology is molecular cloning.
Recombinant DNA technology is a set of techniques that allow the manipulation of DNA.
restriction enzymes
Restriction enzymes are fundamental to the manipulation of DNA.
For the recombinant DNA to originate, the action of restriction enzymes is necessary.
called restriction endonucleases. They are bacterial enzymes that recognize specific base-pair sequences in the DNA molecule and cut them at those points.
It can be said that they are “molecular scissors”.
How is recombinant DNA produced?
Obtaining recombinant DNA is based on the molecular cloning technique.
The process can be summarized as follows:
The first step is to isolate a DNA fragment, which contains the gene of interest. Remember that each gene makes a protein.
The gene of interest, now isolated, is placed in a medium with a circular bacterial DNA fragment, the plasmid and the restriction enzymes.
The bacterial plasmid has the ability to insert a DNA fragment external to its own genome.
The restriction enzymes will cut a certain region of the plasmid, where it will be linked to the DNA fragment of interest.
The isolated DNA fragment will unite with bacterial DNA, through the binding enzymes, ligases.
At that moment, the recombinant DNA is originated.
The next step is to introduce the recombinant DNA into live bacteria or directly into a culture medium with them.
After incorporation of the recombinant DNA, the bacteria will be able to produce a new protein, according to the genes of the initially isolated DNA fragment.
Learn more about Cloning.
Recombinant DNA technology and its applications
- Contribution to genomic studies;
- Transgenics;
- Production of drugs and enzymes;
- Production of several proteins, such as growth hormone and insulin;
- Creation of synthetic vaccines.
Learn more, read also:
Genetic engineering
gene therapy
