Recombinant DNA technology

Recombinant DNA technology Biotechnology Introduction

In the science of genetics, some sweeping changes are taking place.

A lowly bacterium that is found in the bowels of everyone namely Eschefichia coli is drawing the attention of all scientists and learned people.

This bacterium has become one of the potentially most powerful tools known to science in genetic manipulation.

In this chapter, you will learn that we now have the ability to find specific genes, to cut them away from chromosomes, to insert them into the chromosomes of other species.

Genes have been duplicated countless times to harvest their protein product in large quantities.

There are both advantages and disadvantages in doing recombinant research on plants.

Several important species such as carrot, cabbage, citrus and potatoes can be grown from single cells.

So, once a gene is introduced to a cell, a clone of that cell can produce countless altered progeny.

Most plant characteristics that need improvement such as growth rate, size of edible parts and amino acid balance are polygenic – controlled by many genes.

Most of the genes responsible for such traits were not yet identified. It is also very difficult to clone five or more genes which control a trait.

These inevitable disadvantages are there in recombinant DNA technology.

Recombinant DNA technology

It is a technique where the selected DNA of one organism (Donor) is introduced to combine with the DNA of another organism called recipient organism.

As a result, the recipient organism acquires the genetic abilities of the donor.

Altering the genome of an organism by introducing genes of interest is known as gene manipulation or DNA recombinant technology.

As this mechanism has the ability to engineer new organisms, it is known as genetic engineering.

Basic techniques of genetic engineering

Bacterial cells have different kinds of enzymes.

Some of these can cut DNA into fragments and others can join such fragments.

For example, restriction endonucleases discovered in 1970 are involved in cutting DNA at specific sites. Hence they are called molecular scissors.

The enzyme DNA ligase discovered in 1966 acts like a paste molecule to join DNA fragments.

Thus the restriction endonuclease and the DNA ligase are the basic tools required for genetic engineering.

Events of Recombinant DNA technology:

The events of recombinant DNA technology are as follows.

1. The DNA of donor organism or gene of interest is isolated and cut into fragments using restriction endonucleases.

2. They are attached to a suitable replicon. Such replicon is known as vector or cloning vehicle, which is nothing but the extra chromosomal circular DNA found in the cytoplasm of Eschrichia coli is called plasmid. The plasmids are the most suitable vectors.

3. The DNA of the vector is cut into fragments using the same restriction endonucleases. Using the enzyme DNA ligase, the DNA fragments of donor and vector are joined together. This process is called splicing. As a result of splicing hybrid DNA or recombinant DNA (rDNA) is obtained.

4. The rDNA is introduced into the host cells such as E.coli, Bacillus subtilis, Streptomyces sp. etc.,

5. For this the host cells are treated with the enzyme cellulase. So that the cell wall of host becomes permeable to the entry of rDNA.