DNA cloning

DNA cloning is a molecular biology technique that makes many identical copies of a piece of DNA, such as a gene. In a typical DNA cloning procedure, the gene or other DNA fragment of interest (perhaps a gene for a medically important human protein) is first inserted into a circular piece of DNA called a plasmid. The insertion is done using enzymes, and it produces a molecule of recombinant DNA.

Process

The process of DNA cloning involves the following steps:

1. Isolation of DNA fragments: The DNA fragment containing the gene of interest is isolated.
2. Insertion of isolated DNA into the vector: The isolated DNA is inserted into a suitable vector to form recombinant DNA.
3. Introduction of recombinant DNA into the host organism: The recombinant DNA is introduced into a suitable host organism.
4. Replication within the host organism: The host organism is allowed to grow and replicate, producing many identical copies of the recombinant DNA.

Applications

DNA cloning has a wide range of applications, including:

1. Gene therapy: In gene therapy, a normal gene is cloned and used to replace a defective gene in a patient's cells.
2. Production of pharmaceuticals: DNA cloning is used to produce large quantities of proteins for use as pharmaceuticals.
3. Genetic engineering: DNA cloning is a key tool in genetic engineering, which involves modifying the genetic makeup of organisms.

See Also

• Molecular biology
• Gene therapy
• Genetic engineering
• Pharmaceuticals

References

DNA cloning Resources
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