3 Main Tools for Making Recombinant DNA (With Diagram)

The following points highlight the three main tools for making recombinant DNA. The tools are: 1. Enzymes 2. Vectors 3. Gene of Interest.

Recombinant DNA Tool # 1. Enzymes:

The enzymes are necessary for cutting, modifying, ligating and other essential activities to be performed in or­der to generate a recombinant DNA.

Recombinant DNA Tool # 2. Vectors:

These are carrier or vehicular DNA molecules which carry gene of interest. A vector when combined with the gene of interest a recombinant DNA molecule is obtained.

The aim of using a vector in RDT is one of the followings:

1. To obtain multiple copies of the gene of interest. In this case we use cloning vectors.

2. To obtain the product of the gene of interest. In this case we use expres­sion vectors.

Recombinant DNA Tool # 3. Gene of Interest:

It is a segment of DNA that has genetic information for a polypep­tide having some significance to us (like the gene for insulin). This is the passen­ger DNA which sits on the vehicular DNA (the vector) in order to form a recombinant DNA molecule.