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The earth consists of different types of human beings and animals which have different physical features and characters. The different species such as humans, animals, insects though have their own types but still differ from each other in physical appearance. This is due to the presence of DNA also known as deoxyribonucleic acid in our body. This DNA is a complex molecule that acts as a mechanism to transfer information from the parent to the offspring. This is the reason as to why being in the same species we appear different from one another. This DNA plays an important role in one’s life but it has tremendous amounts of types and methods considering it from which one of the most important methods is DNA recombination. This has a very important role in saving lives and providing one.
What exactly is DNA recombination?
The idea of DNA recombination was first proposed by Peter Lobe and he even tried to experiment with it on one of the patients but it did not go up to the mark. After Lobe’s unsuccessful experiment many scientists around the world tried to do the same and successfully Herbert Boyer and Stanley Cohen did an invention on DNA recombination. DNA recombination is a process in which 2 different types of DNA are amalgamated in order to produce a new combination of alleles. Although this DNA recombination method is artificial it plays a significant role in the living world. Though it does not occur naturally it is engineered notably for a motive to be used in one of the many solicitations of recombinant DNA. Recombinant DNA can fabricate recombinant proteins as these proteins play an important role in the solicitation of recombinant DNA.
How is DNA recombination actually made?
The process is used to produce new variations of alleles by combining pieces of DNA which are broken or damaged. The DNA sequence of different organisms show that genetic diversity can be rested at the genes using the DNA combinations to occur in the eukaryotic cell. This occurs when the homologous chromosomes pair up together .
Meiosis Is the type of cell division which helps mainly to form gametes ,egg cells and sperm cells. It is the perfect time for DNA recombination to occur in the eukaryotic cell . This occurs when the homologous chromosome pairs up together .
It can occur during mitosis too, when 2 sister chromosomes are created after chromosome replication. The difference between the processes are , here new alleles are not created because of the identical behaviour of the sister chromosomes.
This process uses enzymes as a catalyst. Enzymes which act as a catalyst for the strand transferring process.
RecA is the enzyme which helps in repairing the double strand of the DN A. It is found in Escherichia coli.
RAD51 proteins are required in eukaryotic organisms to repair their DSB’s. It is also used during mitosis and meiotic recombination.
The DNA repair protein, DMC1, is only needed for meiotic recombination in the archaea. It is also used for protecting the DNA.
Recombinant DNA technology.
Recombinant DNA is denoted as rDNA. These are formed by processes which take place in a lab. Processes like genetic recombination over molecular cloning can be used to form a recombinant DNA. These processes bring the genetic substances together from different sources and then form sequences that could not be found in a genome without these efforts. Its formation has led to its name as it is the usual name for a piece of DNA which is created by the combination of 2 fragments from different sources.
Examples of DNA recombination technology in daily lives.
- It is used in the treatment of cancer.
- Recombinant DNA technology is also used to make vaccines, insulin and some medicines that help to heal a disease infected person.
- For example vaccines such as lispro and epoetin alfa are much more effective than natural regular human vaccines that just have their effect for a particular period whereas these genetically produced medicines and vaccines help to cure the disease.
Positive points or applications of recombinant DNA technology.
- Recombinant DNA technology is extensively used in scientific spheres such as biotechnology, medical spheres such as in medicines and insulin etc.
- Recombinant DNA technology is also used to specify maps and concatenate the genes to regulate their functions.
- It is also used to ascertain the presence of HIV in a person.
Although recombinant DNA technology has indeed done well in the living world, it has some limitations also.
Limitations of recombinant DNA technology.
- The genetically modified species are known for causing destruction to the natural species that cannot cope up with the genetic one’s.
- Due to recombinant DNA technology, there are very high chances of DNA information getting stolen.
Although this technology has some defects, it is important to know that these defects cannot overcome the overwhelmingly positive effects recombinant DNA technology has had on us.
Conclusion.
From the above statements and definitions, we got to know that DNA recombination is indeed important for the living world. Although it has some negative points, the overwhelming positive points of DNA recombination overcomes it. DNA recombination technology is used to cure cancer and is also used to make vaccines and protein transduction approaches. For example lispro, a vaccine produced by recombinant DNA technology is much more effective than human insulin.
