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Biology

Technology is equipment used to do something or make something. Biochemical technology or biotechnology refers to the use of living organisms for the formation of products useable by humans. Recombinant DNA technology is one type of biotechnology.

List the steps involved in forming recombinant DNA, and include the names of the enzymes involved. Also provide an example of the use of this technology. 
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Answer by: misscrt

First Answer

Hi Winter,

STEPS of Recombinant DNA Technology:
(1) Choose a section of DNA to be inserted into a vector (plasmid).
This step is called isolating the gene. The gene for making a protein is isolated from a cell. This gene is on the DNA in a chromosome. Special DNA cutting proteins are utilized to cut out particular parts of DNA. Then, the gene is isolated and copied so that many genes are available to work with.
 
[N ote: The plasmid is a circular piece of DNA that is removed from a bacterial cell.]
(2) Cut that DNA piece using a restriction enzyme.
(3) With DNA Ligase(an enzyme), insert the piece into the plasmid. Then, special cell proteins help close the plasmid ring.
(4) Insert the plasmid into a host bacteria cell. Now, the plasmid becomes a natural part of the bacteria cell. The bacteria cell has a gene in it that is from a different organism, even from a human. This is what is the basis for recombinant DNA technology.
(5) The inserted plasmid can multiply making many copies of the wanted gene. The gene can now be transformed into the cell to make proteins.
(6) Many recombined plasmids are inserted into many bacteria cells. While they live, the bacteria’s cell processes turn on the inserted gene and the protein is produced in the cell. When the bacterial cells reproduce by dividing, the inserted gene is also reproduced in the newly created cells.
(7) The produced protein can be purified and used for a medicinal, industrial, or agricultural use.
End Use: Gene Therapy –
A.     This technology produces certain therapeutic substances (such as growth hormone, insulin, plasminogen activator, and vaccines as for hepatitis B disease) in larger quantities and with fewer or no side effects.
B.     This technology also provides a way to diagnose diseases and even to gain clues to the possible risk of certain diseases.
C.     This technology has proven to be a beneficial asset to forensic pathology by clearing the innocent and identifying the guilty with almost irrefutable evidence.
D.     It is hoped that through this technology that cures can be found for cystic fibrosis, muscular dystrophy, sickle cell anemia, thalassemia, and other genetic diseases.
 
Hope this helps.

misscrt

 

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