5. using microbes to produce human hormones, know names of enzymes involved.

Question 1

what is recombinant DNA technology (genetic engineering)

Answer 1

recombinant DNA technology involves transferring of one or more genes from the genome of one species into the genome of another.

Question 2

recombinant DNA technology - how can the required gene be located.

Answer 2

First the required gene needs to be located. This can be done through bonding patterns or through fluorescence which highlights the gene. We can use gene probes (short length of DNA or RNA), these can either be radioactive or florescent.

Question 3

recombinant DNA technology process

Answer 3

For gene probes to work, we need to cut the DNA into fragments. The enzyme restriction endonuclease is used for this.

We also need a vector, the fragment of DNA is then inserted into vector (another organism).
E.g the plasmid of e.coli is often used as a vector.

endonucleus is used to cut open plasmid.
The DNA fragment is inserted & the enzyme ligase joins this to the plasmid.

The altered plasmid is put back into the e.coli and then is placed in a vat & given nutrients etc and the bacteria now produces the substances associated with the DNA fragments.

e.g human insulin and growth hormone is made this way.