Question

What are the applications and uses of recombinant DNA technology.

Answer 1

Hint:Recombinant DNA technology which is also known as genetic engineering is the combining of DNA from two different species and inserting them in a host organism to produce new genetic recombinations with desired characteristics.

Complete answer:
Recombinant DNA technology is used to produce artificial DNA by using a combination of different genetic materials from various sources. First recombinant DNA molecule was developed by Paul Berg by combining SV40 virus and lambda phage DNA. Boyer and Cohen developed recombinant DNA technology in 1973.

Applications and uses
i) Isolation, identification , mapping and sequencing of genes.
ii) Describing the function of a gene.
iii) Production of recombinant proteins for lab experiments.
iv) Development of drug delivery systems.
v) Recombinant Vaccines can be developed for prevention of many diseases like Hepatitis-B.
vi) Synthesis of drugs, hormones and proteins. Insulin and growth hormones are examples.
vii) Detection and Diagnosis of diseases like HIV.
viii) Treatment using gene silencing systems like CRISPR.
ix) Gene therapy which is used to correct the genetic defects.
x) Production of genetically modified crops in agriculture.
xi) Introduction of pest resistant genes in crops. For example pest resistant cotton and pest resistant brinjal.
xii) Recombinant enzymes are used in the food industry for example in production of cheese.

Note:Restriction enzymes are the most important tools in recombinant DNA technology which allow the DNA to be cut at specific sites. There are wide applications of Recombinant DNA technology in the field of health, biomedicine, agriculture and food industry.