Recombinant DNA technology
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Recombinant DNA technology adds/replaces DNA in an organism resulting in the recipient organism containing exogenous DNA.
Recombinant proteins are proteins that are produced by different genetically modified organisms following insertion of the relevant DNA into their genome. As this recombines the DNA of two different organisms, the word recombinant is used to refer to this process.
PCR has been a key tool because it permits to amplify sequences.
Uses
Many peptide hormone medications, (including insulin, growth hormone, and oxytocin), and vaccines are the product of recombinant processes. The organism most commonly used is Escherichia coli (E.coli).
Plasmids and Recombinant DNA technology
Plasmids are extranuclear fragments of DNA present in some bacteria, which act as a system to transfer genetic material to other bacteria, allowing those to express the transmitted genes. Via restriction enzymes, which cut determinate sequences of DNA in determinate shapes, it is possible to splice into the plasmid a DNA sequence for a gene, and then insert it into a bacteria in order to get the product of that gene. The product is the desired protein, and large amounts can be produced in a factory by large vats of bacteria with the inserted gene.
Note that this system is not valid for advanced cells, as the organization of their genome is different. For these, other systems such as viruses loaded with the chosen material are selected.Template:Biosci-stub