Genetic engineering is possible, becausea)we can cut DNA at specific s...
Genetic engineering is the artificial synthesis, isolation, modification, combination, addition and repair of the genetic material (DNA) to alter the phenotype of the host organism to suit human needs. It is the manipulation of genes by man in vitro. Restriction endonucleases play major role in genetic engineering as they can cut DNA at specific sites.
View all questions of this test
Genetic engineering is possible, becausea)we can cut DNA at specific s...
Understanding Genetic Engineering
Genetic engineering is a powerful technique that allows scientists to modify an organism's DNA. This capability hinges on several key processes, one of which is the ability to cut DNA at specific sites.
Key Process: Cutting DNA
- Genetic engineering is fundamentally reliant on the ability to manipulate DNA.
- Endonucleases, particularly restriction endonucleases, are essential tools in this process.
- These enzymes can recognize specific nucleotide sequences in the DNA and cleave it at designated locations.
Role of Restriction Endonucleases
- Purified restriction endonucleases obtained from bacteria are widely used in laboratory settings.
- They enable scientists to cut DNA at predictable sites, facilitating the insertion or deletion of specific genes.
- This precision allows for the creation of recombinant DNA, where DNA from different sources can be joined together.
Importance of Specificity
- The specificity of these enzymes ensures that only targeted sequences are modified, minimizing unintended changes to the organism's genome.
- The ability to manipulate DNA in this manner has led to advances in biotechnology, medicine, and agriculture.
Conclusion
While other options, such as transduction and visualization of DNA, play roles in genetics, they do not directly enable the precise modification of DNA. The capacity to cut DNA at specific sites is the cornerstone of genetic engineering, making option 'A' the correct answer.