Recombinant DNA technology inserts foreign DNA into organisms for genetic study and improvement. Three methods are used: bacterial transformation, non-bacterial transformation, and phage injection. It is not about creating “unnatural” organisms, but obtaining information to improve human health.
Recombinant DNA technology comprises a group of methods that insert foreign deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) into organisms, both for genetic study and for improvement of the original organism. The insertion of foreign DNA can be done in both simple prokaryotic cells and more complex eukaryotes, but when genetic analyzes are performed, the organisms involved are often single cells. When handling these single cells, three separate methodologies are used: bacterial transformation, non-bacterial transformation, and phage introduction. Each of these three methods accomplishes much the same thing, by incorporating foreign DNA into the genome of a host organism. Each method executes differently and thus each has applications in different contexts.
One of the most common methods of recombinant DNA technology is bacterial transformation. Sometimes known simply as transformation, it involves encouraging a specially prepared bacterial cell to take a foreign piece of DNA and incorporate it directly into the bacterial genome. E. coli, the bacteria that can sometimes cause food poisoning, is often used as a host for this method because they are easy to grow and reproduce quickly. Large quantities of transformed bacteria can give scientists quick and easy answers to questions about particular genes. A common application for bacterial transformation is to test genes for drug resistance and try to anticipate how they change.
A second variety of transformation is called nonbacterial transformation. This recombinant DNA technology is nearly identical to bacterial transformation, except that the bacteria are not used as host cells. Nonbacterial transformation is commonly used in eukaryotic cells, such as yeast or plant cells. This type of transformation can be done by shooting DNA fragments attached to tiny pellets directly into cell nuclei or by injecting DNA into cell nuclei with microscopic needles. Both of these methods are more invasive than bacterial transformation, but there are some cell types, such as plant cells, that don’t easily pick up pieces of foreign DNA due to the cellular structure.
A third type of recombinant DNA technology is phage injection, which involves the use of specific types of viruses, called phages, to inject foreign DNA into host cells. Viruses can carry single-stranded or double-stranded DNA, so they can be used to replace single-stranded DNA at specific locations. Not all phages are capable of carrying foreign DNA, and not all phages that can carry foreign DNA are capable of infecting bacteria. Some phages can also transport DNA more efficiently than others.
Contrary to the prevailing image in popular culture, recombinant DNA technology is not, after all, a group of methods that create “unnatural” organisms. Instead, it uses the genetics common to all organisms to obtain information that would be difficult or nearly impossible to generate any other way. This information is then used to directly or indirectly improve human health. There have been many human health benefits from recombinant DNA technology, including nutrient-fortified rice in famine-stricken areas and new therapies to combat genetic diseases.
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