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Recombinant DNA

OCR A-level BiologyGenetic Engineering and BiotechnologyLesson 9 of 17

DNA from two different organisms can be joined together. First, the required gene must be isolated from the organism. It is then inserted into a vector (usually a plasmid or virus) and inserted into a host cell. Restriction endonucleases can be used to cut out the DNA from the DNA of the organism. Some restriction enzymes make blunt cuts, some make staggered cuts leaving exposed bases on each strand called sticky ends.

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Key terms in this lesson

Restriction endonuclease
An enzyme that cuts DNA at a specific base sequence, or recognition site, sometimes producing single-stranded sticky ends.

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