How To Add Foreign DNA To Bacteria
Using modern laboratory techniques, it is relatively easy to add pieces of foreign DNA to bacteria. To do this, scientists first package their DNA of interest within a circular DNA molecule (a vector). They then use various techniques to induce bacteria to take up the vector. Vectors are circular DNA molecules that look very similar to pieces of bacterial DNA. The process of putting a gene into a vector is called molecular cloning or gene cloning. Most vectors are based on plasmids, which are small circular sequences of DNA that occur naturally within bacteria. Plasmid vectors can accept a few genes’ worth of DNA.
Using modern laboratory techniques, it is relatively easy to add pieces of foreign DNA to bacteria. To do this, scientists first package their DNA of interest within a circular DNA molecule (a vector). They then use various techniques to induce bacteria to take up the vector. Vectors are circular DNA molecules that look very similar to pieces of bacterial DNA. The process of putting a gene into a vector is called molecular cloning or gene cloning. Most vectors are based on plasmids, which are small circular sequences of DNA that occur naturally within bacteria. Plasmid vectors can accept a few genes’ worth of DNA.
Once a vector that contains foreign DNA has been constructed in the lab, it is introduced into bacterial cells. Scientists do this by creating tiny holes (pores) within the bacterial cellmembrane. It’s fairly easy to make the pores – you can do it by suddenly heating the bacterialculture by several degrees or by passing an electric shock through the culture. The vector enters the bacteria while the pores are open. The pores close again quickly – otherwise, the bacteria would die!
Once bacteria have recovered from the process of introducing DNA (called transformation), they can be cultured in the lab. Because the vector has an origin of replication, it is copied and passed to daughter cells in the same way as the bacterium’s own DNA.
Once bacteria have recovered from the process of introducing DNA (called transformation), they can be cultured in the lab. Because the vector has an origin of replication, it is copied and passed to daughter cells in the same way as the bacterium’s own DNA.
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