Concept explainers
Why aren’t the terms recombinant DNA technology (genetic engineering) and
To tell:
Why the terms recombinant DNA technology and biotechnology are not synonymous.
Introduction:
The recombinant DNA technology involves isolation of genetic materials (DNA) from donor organisms (human, plant, or microorganism) and insertion of them into recipient organisms after genetic manipulation. The main tools involved in the techniques are nucleic acids, restriction enzymes, ligase, vectors, reverse transcriptase, and mutagens. This technology is used to introduce genetically modified organism (GMO). The main goals of this technology are to provide (i) elimination of undesirable phenotypic traits in organisms, (ii) creation of new organisms by combining two or more beneficial traits of donor organisms, and (iii) synthesis of beneficial products by the new organism for human need.
Explanation of Solution
Biotechnology is the use of microbes to produce or make products for human needs such as alcohol, cheese, bread, and soy sauce. This technology was used to produce large quantities of antibiotics, acetone, and butanol using bacterial metabolic reactions in the 20th century. Recently, biotechnology is used to make vitamins, paper and textiles, and it is also involved for cleaning oil spills, industrial waste, and radioactive isotopes. Also, it helps for mining metals, like gold, copper, and uranium.
The recombinant DNA technology or genetic engineering is a type of biotechnology, which involves in the alteration of genetic material and phenotype of organisms for human benefits. It is used to replace the mutant gene with a normal gene for clinical uses and other applications. It also helps to create genetically modified organisms (GMO).
Biotechnology is used to produce large quantities of biological products and recombinant DNA technology is used to alter genotype or phenotype of organisms.
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Chapter 8 Solutions
Microbiology with Diseases by Body System (5th Edition)
- Biotechnology is a constantly developing field with many exciting applications. It focuses on the use of living organisms and their biological processes to make useful products and address practical problems. This includes advancements in clinical diagnostics, epidemiological tracking, forensics, industry, and many other areas. In this simulation, you will have the opportunity to perform molecular techniques commonly used in the field of biotechnology to create medically important compounds such as insulin and human growth hormone.Bacteria can obtain naked DNA from their environment in a process called transformation. This process occurs naturally but can also be used in the genetic engineering field to alter the genetic makeup of bacteria. In this simulation, you transform bacteria with a jellyfish gene whose product is green fluorescent protein. The transformed bacteria now have the genetic information to produce GFP (green fluorescent protein), causing them to glow green under…arrow_forwardHow important is biotechnology in our society today?arrow_forwardDistinguish between the general & technical uses of the term “biotechnology”. What is Recombinant DNA Technology/Genetic Engineering?arrow_forward
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