Recombinant DNA Lab

        In this lab, we inserted DNA fragments into the plasmid to create recombinant DNA. We first found a restriction enzyme that would cut the DNA strand twice and the plasmid once. Then, we used the enzyme to cut the strand of DNA where it is closest to the insulin gene. Then, we attached the sticky ends of the DNA strands to the plasmid using Ligase. Finally, we mixed the recombinant plasmid with host bacteria in petri dishes. Because the plasmid is resistant to the antibiotics tetracycline, we were able to use tetracycline to test if the bacteria had taken in the plasmid by checking to see which bacteria had survived. I would not use kanamycin and ampicillin because these two antibiotics would kill all the bacteria, even the ones that had taken in the plasmid. This would then cause the results to be inaccurate. The restriction enzymes, one of the major tools in the lab, are bacterial enzymes that cut the DNA at a specific sequence. We used the enzyme Xma I because it specifically cut the plasmid at one site and cut the at two sites that are the closest to the insulin gene. If I used an enzyme that cut the plasmid in two pieces, I would not be able to attach the plasmid to the DNA properly and connect them into a circular shape. The process of creating recombinant DNA is important to everyday life because it helps create insulin for diabetic people and produce medicines that cure diseases. This process could be used to create genetic modified food that develops resistance against certain types of insects or viruses, which would benefit the agricultural industry.

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