Question

Define insertional inactivation.

Answer 1

Hint: Biotechnology is defined as the process by which a living organism or its parts change or incorporate by character of another organism. Recombinant DNA technology is the part of biotechnology. It is the process by which DNA of one organism transferred into another organism also known as genetic engineering.

Complete Answer:
A fragment of foreign DNA is inserted into a restriction site in a gene for antibiotic resistance which leads the gene to nonfunctional is known as insertional inactivation.
- Genetic screening is the part of recombinant DNA technology.
- It is the experimental technique which is used to find and select the individuals which have the desired properties for the rDNA process.
- It can be done by various ways: Blue white screening, insertional inactivation, antibiotic sensitivity, Auxotrophic yeast strain, and reporter gene assay.
- Insertional inactivation used to select bacteria for transfer of recombinant plasmids.
- It is mostly used for identification of recombinant vectors in gene cloning and helps to distinguish between recombinant vectors from a non-recombinant vector.
- For example, insertion of a small part of foreign DNA into a cloning site which is present on an antibiotic-resistant gene on the vector can lead to loss of the antibiotic resistance phenotype by insertional inactivation.
- Therefore the recombinant vector will specify antibiotic sensitivity on the other hand the non-recombinant vector will specify antibiotic resistance.

Note: This process is the screening or selection which is based on non-expression or expression of certain characteristics. Insertional inactivation is an effective method of screening. In this procedure, one of the genetic characteristics is disturbed by the introduction of foreign DNA.