CHAPTER 12

BIOTECHNOLOGY AND ITS APPLICATIONS

MULTIPLE-CHOICE QUESTIONS

1 Bt cotton is not:
a. A GM plant
b. Insect resistant
c. A bacterial gene expressing system
d. Resistant to all pesticides
2 C-peptide of human insulin is:
a. A part of mature insulin molecule
b. Responsible for formation of disulphide bridges
c. Removed during maturation of pro-insulin to insulin
d. Responsible for its biological activity.
3 GEAC stands for:
a. Genome Engineering Action Committee
b. Ground Environment Action Committee
c. Genetic Engineering Approval Committee
d. Genetic and Environment Approval committee
4 a- 1 antitrypsin is:
a. An antacid
b. An enzyme
c. Used to treat arthritis
d. Used to treat emphysema
5 A probe which is a molecule used to locate homologous sequences in a mixture of DNA or RNA molecules
could be:
a. A ssRNA
b. A ssDNA
c. Either RNA or DNA
d. Can be ssDNA but not ssRNA
6 Choose the correct option regarding Retrovirus:
a. An RNA virus that synthesises DNA during infection
b. A DNA virus that synthesises RNA during infection
c. A ssDNA virus
d. A dsRNA virus
7 The site of production of ADA in the body is:
a. Erythrocytes
b. Lymphocytes
c. Blood plasma
d. Osteocytes
8 A protoxin is:
a. A primitive toxin
b. A denatured toxin
c. Toxin produced by protozoa
d. Inactive toxin
9 Pathophysiology is the:
a. Study of physiology of pathogen
b. Study of normal physiology of host
c. Study of altered physiology of host
d. None of the above
10 The trigger for activation of toxin of Bacillus thuringiensis is:
a. Acidic pH of stomach
b. High temperature
c. Alkaline pH of gut
d. Mechanical action in the insect gut
11 Golden rice is:
a. A variety of rice grown along the yellow river in China
b. Long stored rice having yellow colour tint
c. A transgenic rice having gene for β - carotene
d. Wild variety of rice with yellow coloured grains
12 In RNAi, genes are silenced using:
a. ss DNA
b. ds DNA
c. ds RNA
d. ss RNA
13 The first clinical gene therapy was done for the treatment of:
a. AIDS
b. Cancer
c. Cystic fibrosis
d. SCID (Severe Combined Immuno Deficiency resulting form deficiency of ADA)
14 ADA is an enzyme which is deficient in a genetic disorder SCID. What is the full form of ADA?
a. Adenosine deoxyaminase
b. Adenosine deaminase
c. Aspartate deaminase
d. Arginine deaminase
15 Silencing of a gene could be achieved through the use of:
a. RNAi only
b. antisense RNA only
c. both RNAi and antisense RNA
d. none of the above

VERY SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

1 In view of the current food crisis, it is said, that we need another green revolution. Highlight the major
limitations of the earlier green revolution.
2 Expand GMO. How is it different from a hybrid?
3 Differentiate between diagnostics and therapeutics. Give one example and for each category.
4 Give the full form of ELISA. Which disease can be detected using it? Discuss the principle underlying the
test.
5 Can a disease be detected before its symptoms appear? Explain the principle involved.
6 Write a short note on Biopiracy highlighting the exploitation of developing countries by the developed
countries.
7 Many proteins are secreted in their inactive form. This is also true of many toxic proteins produced by
micro organisms. Explain how the mechanism is useful for the organism producing the toxin?
8 While creating genetically modified organisms, genetic barriers are not respected. How can this be
dangerous in the long run?
9 Why has the Indian Parliament cleared the second amendment of the country's patents bill?
10 Give any two reasons why the patent on Basmati should not have gone to an American Company.
11 How was Insulin obtained before the advent of rDNA technology? What were the problems encountered?
12 With respect to understanding diseases, discuss the importance of transgenic animal models.
13 Name the first transgenic cow. Which gene was introduced in this cow?
14 PCR is a useful tool for early diagnosis of an infectious disease. Elaborate.
15 What is GEAC and what are its objectives?
16 For which variety of Indian rice, the patent was filed by a USA Company?
17 Discuss the advantages of GMO.

SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

1 Gene expression can be controlled with the help of RNA. Explain the method with an example.
2 Ignoring our traditional knowledge can we prove costly in the area of biological patenting. Justify.
3 Highlight any four areas where genetic modification of plants has been useful.
4 What is a recombinant DNA vaccine? Give two examples.
5 Why is it that the line of treatment for a genetic disease is different from infectious diseases?
6 Discuss briefly how a probe is used in molecular diagnostics.
7 Who was the first patient who was given gene therapy? Why was the given treatment recurrent in nature?
8 Taking examples under each category, discuss upstream and downstream processing.
9 Define Antigen and Antibody. Name any two diagnostic kits based upon them.
10 ELISA technique is based on the principles of antigen-antibody interaction. Can this techique be used in the
molecular diagnosis of a genetic disorder, such as phenyketonuria?
11 How is a mature, functional insulin hormone different from its prohormone form?
12 Gene therapy is an attempt to correct a genetic defect by providing a normal gene into the individual. By
this the normal function can be restored. An alternate method would be to provide the gene product
(protein/enzyme) known as enzyme replacement therapy, which would also restore the function. Which in
your opinion is a better option? Give reason for your answer.
13 Transgenic animals are the animals in which a foreign gene is expressed. Such animals can be used to study
the fundamental biological process, phenomenon as well as for producing products useful for mankind.
Give one example for each type.
14 When a foreign DNA is introduced into an organism, how is it maintained in the host and how is it
transferred to the progeny of the organism?
15 Bt cotton is resistant to pest, such as lepidopteron, dipterans and coleopterans. Is Bt cotton also resistant to
other pests as well?

LONG ANSWER QUESTIONS

1 A patient is suffering from ADA deficiency. Can he be cured? How?

2 Define transgenic animals. Explain in detail any four areas where they can be utilised.
3 You have identified a useful gene in bacteria. Make a flow chart of the steps that you would follow to
transfer this gene to a plant.
4 Highlight five areas where biotechnology has influenced our lives.
5 What are the various advantages of using genetically modified plants to increase the overall yield of the
crop?
6 Explain with the help of one example how genetically modified plants can:
(a) Reduce usage of chemical pesticides
(b) Enhance nutritional value of food crops
7 List the disadvantages of insulin obtained from the pancreas of slaughtered cows and pigs:
8 List the advantages of recombinant insulin.
9 What is meant by the term bio-pesticide? Name and explain the mode of action of a popular bio-pesticide.
10 Name the five key tools for accomplishing the tasks of recombinant DNA technology. Also mention the
functions of each tool.
Answers and Hints

1. d
2. c
3. c
4. d
5. c
6. a
7. b
8. d
9. c
10. c
11. c
12. d
13. b
14. c

VERY SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

1. Major limitations of the earlier green revolution are as follows

(i) Generally undesired characters also breed along with desired ones.
(ii) Regular use of fertilisers affected both soil fertility and quality.
(iii) Extensive use of pesticides/insecticides/weedicides resulted in harmful effects on the natural
components of the ecosystem.
So, another green revolution that can curb these problems and enhance the quality food production in
limited land resources is certainly required.
2. GMO stands for Genetically Modified Organism. It differs from a hybrid because in a hybrid, cross is done
between total genomes of two species or strains, where as in a GMO, foreign gene(s) is introduced in the
organism, and is usually maintained as extra-chromosomal entity or is integrated into the genome of the
organism
3. A diagnostic technique helps us to identify a disease. Example: ELISA to test for HIV. A therapeutic agent on
the other hand helps in the treatment of a disease. Example: Antibiotics for bacterial infections.
4. ELISA stands for Enzyme linked immuno Sorbent Assay. It is used for the detection of (HIV) AIDS disease.
ELISA is based on the principle of antigen-antibody interaction. Infection by pathogen can b e detected by
the presence (proteins,glycoproteins, etc.) or by detecting the antibodies synthesised by the host agaisnt
the pathogen.

5. When the symptoms of the disease are not yet visible,the pathogen concentration is very low so, the
detection by conventional diagnostic tests is very difficult. However, detection of a disease before the
appearance of symptoms is possible by the amplification of victim‘s nucleic acid by PCR.
The principle involved here is that a single DNA molecule can be copied endlessly in a test tube using
primers, DNA polymerase enzyme and free nucleotides. The desired DNA of the pathogen is amplified by
PCR from a limited amount of DNA template.

6. Biopiracy is the term used to refer the use of bio-resources by the multinational companies and other
organisations without proper authorisation from the countries and from the people concerned without
compensatory payment. Most of the industrialised nations are rich financially but poor in biodiversity and
traditional knowledge. In contrast, the developing and the underdeveloped world is rich in biodiversity and
traditional knowledge related to bio-resources.
 So, sometimes industrialised nations tend to exploit the resources or biodiversity of developing nations, for
their own advantages.

7. Many proteins including certain toxins are secreted in their inactive form. They get activated, only when
exposed to a specific trigger (pH. temperature etc.). It is advantageous to the bacteria producing it because
the bacteria does not get killed due to the action of protein.
8. Genetic modification of organisms can have unpredictable results when such organisms are introduced into
the ecosystem. Because the real effects of gene manipulation are visible only when such organisms interact
with other components and organisms of the ecosystem.
9. The Indian Parliament has recently cleared the second amendment of the Indian Patents Bill that take such
issues into consideration including patent terms emergency provisions and research and development
initiative.
10. The patent on Basmati should not have gone to an American Company, because of the following reasons
(i) The Basmati rice variety has been grown in India since time immemorial. Traditionally, it belongs to
India.
(ii) The new variety of Basmati that got patent rights to an American Company is actually derived from
‘Indian farmers variety’.
11. Insulin is used for diabetes treatment and it was earlier extracted from the pancreas of slaughtered cattile
and pigs. This insulin caused some patients to develop allergy or other types of reactions to the foreign
protein.
12. Transgenic animals are important in the following fields
(i) They are being used in basic science research to elucidate, the role of genes in the
development of diseases like cancer, cystic fibrosis, rheumatoid arthritis and alzheimer’s.
(ii) They are valuable tools in the drug development process itself.
(iii) They can produce medicines or human proteins (insulin, growth hormone, etc.) in large quantities.
(iv) Transgenics can be a source of transplant organs as well.

13. Rosie was the name of the first transgenic cow. Gene for human alpha lactalbumin was introduced in its
gene, which made the milk nutritionally richer.
14. PCR is a very sensitive technique which enables the specific amplification of desired DNA from a limited
amount of DNA template. Hence, it can detect the presence of an infectious organism in the infected patient
at an early stage of infection (even before the infectious organism has multiplied to large number).
15. GEAC (Genetic Energy Approval Committee) is an Indian government organisation. Its objective are to:
a. examine the validity of GM (Genetic modification of organism) research.

b. inspect the safety of introducing GM for public services.

16. Indian Basmati was crossed with semi-dwarf variety and was claimed as a new variety for which the patent
was filed by a USA company.
17. Advantages of GMO are
(i) GMO food crops have shorter growing cycles, greater resistance to both insects and
diseases, higher yields and higher nutritional value.
(ii) GMO animals have increased production and nutritive values, e.g.,GM, cows may
produce more milk.
(iii) The World Health Organisation or WHO, claims that GMO plants and animals may allow food prices to
drop as food sources become more abundant.
 SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

1. RNAi technology is used to block the expression of certain genes and also referred to as gene silencing.
During this process, a complementary RNA to the mRNA being produced by the gene is introduced into the
cell. This RNA binds to the mRNA making it double stranded and therefore, stops the process of translation.
e.g., a nematode Meloidegyne incognitia infects the roots of tobacco plants which reduces
the production of tobacco.
It can be prevented by using RNA interference (RNAi) process which is checked by silencing of specific
mRNA due to a complementary dsRNA.
dsRNA binds and prevents the translation of mRNA (silencing). By using Agrobacterium vectors, Nematode-
specific genes were introduced into the host plants which produces both sense and anti-sense RNA in the
host cells.
These two RNAs are complementary to each other and form a double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) that initiates
RNAi and hence, silence the specific mRNA of the nematode. The parasite cannot survive in transgenic host
and so prevents the plants from pests.
2. Biological patenting:
Biological patenting is a method to grant license to a new biological invention based on a novel concept and
prevent others from misusing the invention without authorisation.

Consequences of ignoring traditional knowledge:

 Ancient texts have a lot of traditional knowledge which people were using for hundreds of years..
 If we ignore them other countries will use that knowledge for biological patenting. This is called biopiracy.
 Biopiracy refers to the use of bio-resources by multinational companies and other organisations without
proper authorisation from the countries and people concerned.
 Once an industry or an organisation discovers something novel such as a drug or a medicine, it gets the
patent of that particular drug or medicine.
 Sometimes, these industries over exploit the market by selling their products at a higher rate.
 This indicates that ignoring our traditional knowledge can be costly in the field of biological patenting.
3. Genetically Modified Plants (GMOs) are the plants, whose genes have been altered by manipulation.
Genetic modification of plants is useful in different areas. Because of following reasons
(a) It increases tolerance against abiotic stresses (cold, drought, salt, heat).
(b) It reduces reliance on chemical pesticides (pest-resistant crops).
(c) It reduces post-harvest losses.
(d) It increases the efficiency of minerals used by plants (this prevents early exhaustion of fertility of soil).
(e) It enhances nutritional value of food, e.g., vitamin-A enriched rice (golden rice).
(f) It creates tailor-made plants to supply alternative resources such as starch fuels and pharmaceuticals to
industries.
4. Recombinant DNA vaccines are produced by using genetically engineered plasmids that have gene inserts
possessing the surface proteins of a pathogen. After the binding of pathogens to these surface proteins, a
weak immune response is elicited but it do not results in infection.
These plasmids are inserted in bacteria or yeast cells that expresses the viral proteins, which are then
injected into the human host as vaccine, where they are recognised as foreign and an immune response is
elicited. Recombinant hepatitis-B vaccine and polio vaccine are the examples.

5. The line of treatment for a genetic disease is different from infectious diseases because genetic diseases
cannot be treated with any medication, only the signs and symptoms can be taken care of. The only way to
treat them is by the manipulation of genes to correct or replace the faulty genes.
On the other hand, infectious diseases are caused by pathogens and therefore, can be treated by substances
that kill the pathogen or hamper its growth.
6. Early detection of a disease is not possible by conventional diagnostic methods. So. Some techniques have
been implanted for early diagnosis like PCR, recombinant DNA technology and ELISA.
in recombinant DNA technology, a probe is used. It is allowed to hybridise to its complementary DNA in the
clone of cells. the cells are then detected by autoradiography
The cell with mutated gane will not be observed on the photographic film becuase the probe will not h ave
complementarity with the mutated gene.
7. Gene therapy is a collection of methods that allows the correction of gene defects diagnosed in a child or
embryo. Correction of a genetic defect involves the delivery of a normal gene into the individual or embryo
to take over the function of and compensate for the non-functional gene.
The first clinical gene therapy was given in 1990 to a 4 yrs old girl with Adenosine Deaminase (ADA)
deficiency.
ADA deficiency is caused due to the deletion of gene for Adenosine Deaminase. It can be cured by bone
marrow transplantation or by enzyme replacement therapy. In both the approaches, it is not completley
curable.
It may recurrent in nature because in the process of gene therapy, lymphocytes used are found to be mortal
in nature and the patient requires periodic infusion of such genetically engineered lymphocytes.
For permanent cure, gene isolated from the bone marrow cells producing ADA is introduced into the cells
at early embryonic stages.

8. In upstream processing , in proper nutrient medium , a strain of desired microorganism is growth in

optimum conditions of pH , temperature and aeration etc.
However in dowstream processing it is done when sampling report telss about completion of biosynthetic
step and presence of optimum product in the cells . Thus it is the technique of obtaining the products of
microbial activity . For example for preparation of antibiotics biomass is collected and product is separated.
Upstream process deals, with the start of microbial activity.
9. Antigens are foreign substances that have the ability to elicit an immune response in the body. Examples
include dust, pollen grains, pathogenic bacteria etc.
Antibody Antibodies are immunoglobulins synthesized by the immune system against the antigen.
Antibodies possess sites for binding with antigens. These interactions result in the visible clumping of
antigen - antibody complexes called agglutination. This can be detected.
Diagnostic kits based on antigen - antibody reaction :
Two diagnostic kits based on antigen-antibody interactions are as follows:
1. ELISA kit - It is used for the detection of HIV/AIDS infection. This kit detects the antibodies produced in
the host organism against Human Immunodeficiency Virus.
2. Pregnancy test kit -It detects the presence of human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) hormone in the urine
of a pregnant female.
10. Yes, one can use antibody against the enzyme (that is responsible for the metabolism of phenylanaline) to
develop ELISA based diagnostic technique. The patient, in which the enzyme-protein complex is absent
would give a negative result in ELISA when compared to the normal individual.
11. Mature functional insulin is obtained by processing of pro-hormone which contains extra peptide called C-
peptide. This C-peptide is removed during maturation of pro-insulin to insulin.
12. Gene therapy would be a better option because it has the potential to completely cure the patient. It is
because the correct gene once introduced in the patient. Can continue to produce the correct protein
enzyme Enzyme therapy does not offer permanent cure as it needs to be given to the patient on regular
basis. it is also more expensive.
13. Transgenic animals are the animals in which a foreign genes are expressed. Such animals can be used to
study the fundamental biological process/phenomenon, e.g., by using model organisms like mouse we can
determine how genes are regulated (gene regulation), how they affect the normal functions of the body and
its development, etc. Transgenic animals are also used for producing products useful for mankind, e.g.,
 Transgenic cow (rosie). Which produced human protein enriched milk (2.4 g/L). The milk contained the
human alpha-lactalbumin and was nutritionally a more balanced product for human babies than natural
cow-milk.

14. Foreign gene is usually ligated to a plasmid vector and introduced in the host. As plasmid replicates, and
makes multiple copies of itself, so does the foreign gene gets replicated and its several copies are made.
When the host organism divides. Its progeny also receives the plasmid. DNA containing the foreign gene.
The whole process can be visulaised in the figure given b elow

15. Bt cotton is made resistant to certain specific taxa of pests (lepidopteran, dipterans and coleopterans). It is
quite likely that in future, some other pests may infest these Bt-cotton plants. It is similar to immunisation
against smallpox which does not provide immunity against other pathogens like those, that causes cholera,
typhoid etc.

LONG ANSWER QUESTIONS

1. ADA deficiency :
Adenosine deaminase (ADA) is the enzyme that is required for the proper functioning of the immune
system.
SCID (Severe Combined Immunodeficiency) is caused by a mutation of the gene encoding the enzyme
adenosine deaminase. These patients have non-functional lymphocytes, so they cannot mount immune
responses against invading pathogens.
Yes, ADA deficiency can be cured by the following methods:
 Bone marrow transplantation
 Enzyme replacement therapy
 Gene therapy
Bone marrow transplantation :
SCID can be treated by bone marrow transplantation. But getting a suitable bone marrow transplant is
difficult.
Enzyme replacement therapy :
 The enzyme ADA can be given to the patient intravenously and this treatment is known as Enzyme
Replacement therapy. But this approach is not completely curative.
Gene therapy :
Gene therapy for SCID involves the following steps:
 The lymphocytes of the patients are isolated and grown in the laboratory.
 Using a retroviral vector the complementary DNA of the ADA gene (ADA cDNA) is incorporated into the
lymphocytes.
 Genetically engineered lymphocytes are then infused back into the patient’s blood.
 Now the lymphocytes could produce ADA.
 Since these lymphocytes are taken from the same patient there is no sign of rejection.
 This process is performed periodically as this is not a permanent method to cure this disorder as
lymphocytes are mortal cells.
 If gene therapy is performed at the early embryonic stages using bone marrow cells, it will be a permanent
cure
2. Animals that have had their DNA manipulated to possess and express an extra (foreign) gene are known as
transgenic animals.
Following are the four main areas where they can be utilised
(i) To Study Normal Physiology and Development
These animals can be used to study that which factor/gene products are needed at what time of
development. By the expression of certain genes, they help scientists to understand the normal gene
expression at various stages of growth and development.
(ii) Study of Diseases
Transgenic animals can be created to serve as models for various human diseases. They also help us to
understand the involvement of various genes in diseases like cancer, Parkinson’ disease etc.
(iii) Vaccine Safety
Transgenic animals can be used to test vaccines like polio vaccine. Transgenic mice have shown promising
results in this area and would replace the vaccine testing on monkeys in the years to come.
(iv) Chemical Safety Testing
Transgenic animals are created which are more sensitive to certain chemicals/drugs.
These are used to study the toxicity or side effects of that chemical/drug. The advantage is that we get
results faster.
3. After identifying a useful gene in bacteria, following steps should be followed
(i) Isolation of useful gene using restriction endonucleases
↓
(ii) Ttransferrin g the gen e to a suitable vector to create a recombinant DNA molecule

↓
(iii) Trasnfer of these recombinant DNA molecuels to the target cells.
↓
(iv) Screening of cells for transformation
↓
(v) Selection of transformed cells
↓
(vi) Regeneration of platns from the trasnformed cells to get transgenic plants
4. Biotechnology has influenced our lives in the following ways
(i) It has provided us with genetically modified crops of better quality and high nutritive value.
(ii) It has made better and safer recombinant vaccines available to the human.
(iii) It has helped to develop transgenic animals that can produce human proteins.
 (iv) It has enabled the cure of genetic diseases using gene therapy.
(v) Environment pollution has also been taken care of with the help of genetically engineered microbes.
5. Genetically modified plants have been useful in ma ny ways as follows.
(i) These plants are more tolerant to abiotic stresses (cold,drought, salt, heat)
(ii) They have reduced the relance on chemical pesticides (pest-resistant crops).
(iii) They helped to reduce post harvest losses.
(iv) They increases the efficiency of mineral usage by plants this prevents early exhaustion of fertility of
soil.
(v) Enhanced nutritional value of food e.g., vitamin-A enriched rice.
In addition to these uses. GM plants have been used to create tailor-made plants to supply alternative
rescurces to industries, in the form of starches, fuels and pharmaceuticals.
6. (a) Genetically modified plants can reduce the usage of chemical pesticides by introducing pest resistant
plants. e.g., There are several nematodes that parasitie, a wide variety of plants and animals including
human beings. A nematode Meloidogyne incognita infects the roots of tobacco plants and causes a great
reduction in yield. A novel strategy was adopted to prevent this infestation which was based on the process
of RNA interference (RNAi). Using Agrobacterium vectors, nematode-specific genes were introduced into
the host plant. The introduction of DNA was such that it produced both sense and antisense RNA
in the host cells. These two RNA’s being complementary to each other formed a double stranded RNA
that initiated RNAi and thus, silenced the specific mRNA of the nematode. The consequence was that the
parasite could not survive in a transgenic host expressing specific interfering RNA.
(b) Genetically modified plants can enhance nutritional value of food crops. e.g., ‘Golden rice’ developed at
Swiss Federal Institute of technology is an example of nutritionally modified crop. It is rich in vitamin-A (b-
carotene). The rice grains are golden-yellow in colour. It contains ‘beta-carotene’ gene from daffodil plant
and also from some bacteria. Golden rice can prevent child blindness which is caused due to the deficiency
of vitamin-A.
7. The disadvantages of insulin obtained from the pancreas of slaughtered cows and pigs are
(i) Insulin being a hormone is produced in very little amounts in the body Hence a large number of animals
need to be sacrificed for obtaining small quantities of insulin. this makes the cost of insulin very high
(Demand being many fold higher than supply)
(ii) Slaugtering of animals is not ethical
(iii) There is a potential of immune response in humans against the administered insulin which is derived
from animals.
(iv) There is possibility of slaughtered animals being infested with some infectious microorganism which
may contaminate insulin
8. The advantages of recombinant insulin are
(i) There is no need of animals to be sacrificed for the production of recombinant insulin.
(ii) Recombinant insulin was not found allergic to patients, while the insulin from an animal source caused
some patients to develop allergy or other types of reactions to the foreign protein.
(iii) The cost of recombinant insulin is not very high. (Supply being many fold higher than demand).
9. Biopesticide is a pesticide which is
(i) Not chemcial in nature
(ii) More specific in action against the pest.
(iii) Safer for environment than chemical pesticides.
A popularly known bio-pesticide is Bt toxin. Which is produced by a bacterium called Bacillus thuringlensis.
Bt toxin gene has been cloned from t his bacterium and expressed in plants. Bt toxin protein when ingested
by the insect gets converted to its active form due to the alkaline pH of the gut.
The activated toxin binds to the surface of midgut epithelial cells are create pores that causes swelling and
lysis of the cell and eventually kills the insect.
10. The key tools for accomplishing the tasks of recombinant DNA technology with their
functions are mentioned below
(i) Restriction endonucleases for cutting the desired DNA at desired places.
(ii) Gel electrophoresis for separating the desired DNA fragments.
(iii) Ligase enzyme for creating recombinant DNA molecule.
(iv) DNA delivery system like electroporation, microinjection, gene gun method, etc.
(v) Competant host (usually bacteria/yeast) to take up the recombinant DNA.