Making a Recombinant DNA Molecule - Insulin

Question 1

1. Human Cell (Insulin = Beta Cells)

Answer 1

• The insulin gene on a chromosome is located at the recognition site
• The insulin gene is cut/removed from the chromosome using a restriction enzyme

Question 2

1. Bacterial Cell

Answer 2

• A bacterial cell is used because it can reproduce at a quicker rate
• A plasmid (small circular stranded fragment of DNA in a BC) is removed from the BC using a restriction enzyme

Question 3

First two dot points of coming together

Answer 3

1. The restriction enzyme will cut the pieces of DNA at a certain base sequence
2. The enzyme will cut the DNA/gene on either side of a gene, leaving a blunt end/staggered cut or will cut the DNA leaving unpaired nucleotides which are called sticky ends

Question 4

Second two dot points of coming together

Answer 4

3. The cut insulin cell and plasmid are solated and with the use of DNA ligase it will insert the insulin cell into the plasmid
4. The joining of the insulin cell and plasmid is now called recombinant DNA

Question 5

Last two dot points of coming together

Answer 5

5. The DNA is inserted back into the bacterial cell - which is called a vector
6. The bacterial cell is cloned and will produce large amounts of insulin in a fermentation vat