The plasmids noted in the text had ________ DNA spliced into them as a first step in using them to turn out a human _______.
Adv.
The plasmids noted in the text had human DNA spliced into them as a first step in using them to turn out a human protein of interest.
Plasmids are important tools, used in biotechnology as DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) delivery vehicles. Plasmids are minute compartments located outside the chromosome in bacterial cells. They can also be termed as extra chromosomal rings, as they lie outside the chromosome.
Plasmids are used in synthesis of recombinant DNA. The human DNA, (of interest) is cut at specific sites with the help of restriction enzymes. The resulting DNA fragment consists of sticky ends.
Plasmids are isolated and the same restriction enzyme, which was used to incise human DNA, is used on plasmids. The resulting plasmids also contain sticky ends. It is important to note that the sticky ends of human DNA fragment and the plasmids are exactly complementary to one another.
The DNA fragments and the cut plasmid are mixed together. As they are complementary to one another, they form base pairs. The human DNA, therefore, gets integrated into ring of plasmid. It can also be stated that the human DNA fragment recombines with the cut plasmid sequence. This is called recombinant DNA.