Gene Manipulation and Recombinant DNA Technology

Question 1

Define molecular biology.

Answer 1

It is the study of biology at the molecular level, but focuses particularly on the structure, function and relationship between DNA, RNA and proteins.

Question 2

Define genetic engineering.

Answer 2

Genetic engineering describes the process of manipulating genes outside of a cell/organism’s normal reproductive process.

Question 3

What is rDNA technology?

Answer 3

Recombinant DNA technology involves the isolation, cloning and insertion of a gene by proper methods into a host cell which then expresses the gene as a part of its genome to produce the protein or peptide of that gene.

Question 4

What is an rDNA?

Answer 4

It is a piece of DNA artificially created in vitro, which contains DNA obtained from two or more sources.

Question 5

What are the steps/actions involved in developing a new biopharmaceutical?

Answer 5

1. Identify and isolate the gene coding for the target protein.
2. Generate an appropriate piece of rDNA containing the protein’s coding sequence
3. Introduce the rDNA into a suitable host cell such that the target protein is produced in large quantities by the engineered cell.