Recombinant DNA – Lecture Notes for AP Biology Introduction Recombinant DNA technologyrefers to the set of techniques for recombining genes from different sources in vitroand transferring this recombinant DNA into cells where it may be exressed! • "hese techniques were first develoed around #$%& for basic research in bacterial molecular biology' but this technology has also lead to many imortant discoveries in basic eu(aryotic molecular biology! • )uch discoveries resulted in the aearance of the biotechnologyindustry! Biotechnology refers to the use of living organisms or their comonents to do ractical tas(s such as* o "he use of microorganisms to ma(e wine and cheese o )elective breeding of livestoc( and cros o Production of antibiotics from microorganisms o Production of monoclonal antibodies "he use of recombinant DNA techniques allows modern biotechnology to be a more recise and systematic rocess than earlier research methods! • +t is also a owerful tool since it allows genes to be moved across the secies barrier! • ,sing these techniques' scientists have advanced our understanding of eu(aryotic molecular biology! • "he -uman .enome Pro/ectis an imortant alication of this technology! "his ro/ect0s goal is to transcribe and translate the entire human genome in order to better understand the human organism! • A variety of alications are ossible for this technology' and the ractical goal is the imrovement of human health and food roduction! DNA Cloning A! DNA technolo gy ma(es it os sible to clo ne gene s for basic res earc h and commercial alications* an overview Prior to the discovery of recombinant DNA techniques' rocedures for altering the genes of organisms were constrained by the need to find and roagate desirable mutants • .eneticists relied on either natural rocesses' mutagenic radiation' or chemicals to induce mutations! • +n a laborious rocess' each organism0s henotye was chec(ed to determine the resence of the desired mutation! • 1icrobial geneticist s develoed techniq ues for screen ing mutants! 2or examle bacteria was cultured on media containing an antibiotic to isolate mutants which were antibiotic resistant!
