Introduction to DNA Cloning - Online Tutor, Practice Problems & Exam Prep

DNA cloning involves creating multiple identical copies of a specific DNA sequence, often using bacterial cells like E. coli as hosts. This process utilizes biochemical reactions to produce the desired DNA, which is then inserted into the host cell for replication. Recombinant DNA technology combines DNA from different species, using bacterial plasmids as cloning vectors to carry foreign genes into host cells. This enables the replication of genes of interest, facilitating genetic experiments and advancements in biotechnology.

Introduction to DNA Cloning

In this video, we're going to begin our introduction to DNA cloning. And so DNA cloning is really just the process of creating many identical copies of DNA. For example, a gene inside of a cell, like for example, a bacterial cell like E. coli as you can see down below in this image. And so there are a series of biochemical reactions that researchers can use to produce DNA containing a specific sequence of interest, and we'll be able to talk a little bit about these biochemical reactions as we move forward in our course.

Now the DNA with the specific sequence of interest, once it has been produced, it can then be transferred into a host cell. And the host cell can then replicate via its normal process and then the specific sequence of interest can be cloned many times or replicated many times. And so, if we take a look at this silly little cartoon that we made down below, notice over here on the far left-hand side we have a scientist, and this scientist has made a specific DNA molecule with a specific sequence of interest, which is here in orange. And so notice that the scientist is saying, "hey, I made this for you," saying this to the E. coli, the bacterial cell over here, and this cell, this bacterial cell is saying, "Oh, for me?" And so basically what can happen is this DNA, which has the specific DNA sequence of interest, it can be inserted into E. coli. And when the E. coli replicate via their normal process, they can also clone the DNA, and this is the process of DNA cloning.

And so notice that you can get a lot of replicated DNA and a lot of that specific gene or sequence of interest, just through DNA cloning. And again, it's going to be utilizing living cells. DNA cloning utilizes a cell as indicated up above. And so as we move forward in our course, we'll be able to talk more and more about DNA cloning, but for now, this here concludes our introduction to DNA cloning and I'll see you all in our next video.

Cloning with Recombinant DNA

In this video, we're going to talk about cloning with recombinant DNA. Scientists tend to create and clone recombinant DNA for genetic experiments. But what is recombinant DNA? Well, recombinant DNA is really just a molecule that contains DNA from 2 different sources, and these two different sources are often going to be different species. For example, bacteria and a human. Bacterial plasmids are going to be very, very important for this lesson. Bacterial plasmids are small, circular DNA molecules that are replicated independently from the bacteria's or the organism's genome, and these bacterial plasmids, these small circular DNA molecules, can be used as cloning vectors. Cloning vectors are molecules such as plasmids that are capable of carrying a gene of interest, like foreign DNA, into a host cell.

In our example down below, we're going to talk about creating recombinant DNA plasmids to be used as cloning vectors. In this image, notice over here on the left-hand side, we're showing you the bacterial plasmid, which is this circular, small circular DNA molecule found in bacteria. And then we're showing you a gene of interest here, which could be from a different species, like for example, a human. This is DNA from 2 different sources, bacteria and a human. We can create a recombinant DNA molecule, and the recombinant DNA molecule is going to be a single molecule that has DNA from 2 different sources. In this example, the recombinant DNA has DNA from the bacterial plasmid, and it also has the gene of interest, which would be from a different species, like for example, a human. You have a single molecule that has bacterial DNA and human DNA. A single molecule with DNA from 2 different sources would be a recombinant DNA molecule. This recombinant DNA molecule can serve as a cloning vector. Cloning vectors are just molecules or plasmids that will carry a gene of interest into a host cell.

This recombinant DNA can be used to carry the gene of interest into a host cell, like bacteria host cells. Here we have a few different bacteria that all have the recombinant DNA molecule and all have the gene of interest. In other words, cloning vectors are forms of recombinant DNA that carry the foreign DNA into the host cell. Once the foreign DNA is in the host cell, it can be replicated by the cell when the cell goes to replicate itself. This is something that we're going to talk more and more about as we move forward in our course. But for now, this here concludes our brief introduction to cloning with recombinant DNA, and we'll be able to learn more and more about this as we move forward. So I'll see you all in our next video.

Small accessory rings of DNA that replicate independently of an organism's genome are called _____.

• A. Recombinant DNA.
• B. Plasmids.
• C. Clones.
• D. Transposons.

In DNA technology, the term 'vector' can refer to:

• A. The enzyme that cuts DNA into restriction fragments.
• B. The sticky end of a DNA fragment.
• C. A SNP marker.
• D. A vehicle used to transfer DNA into a living cell.

What is recombinant DNA made of?

• A. Restriction enzymes and target DNA.
• B. Target DNA and DNA ligase.
• C. DNA from two different sources.
• D. A bacterial chromosome and a bacterial plasmid.
• E. None are correct.

Here’s what students ask on this topic:

What is DNA cloning and how is it used in genetic experiments?

DNA cloning is the process of creating multiple identical copies of a specific DNA sequence. This is often done using bacterial cells like E. coli as hosts. Researchers use biochemical reactions to produce the desired DNA, which is then inserted into the host cell. The host cell replicates the DNA through its normal processes, allowing for the cloning of the specific sequence. DNA cloning is crucial in genetic experiments as it enables the replication and study of genes of interest, facilitating advancements in biotechnology and genetic research.

What is recombinant DNA and how is it created?

Recombinant DNA is a molecule that contains DNA from two different sources, often from different species. It is created by combining a gene of interest from one species with a bacterial plasmid, a small circular DNA molecule found in bacteria. The plasmid acts as a cloning vector, carrying the foreign DNA into a host cell. Once inside the host cell, the recombinant DNA can be replicated as the cell replicates, allowing for the study and manipulation of the gene of interest in genetic experiments.

What are bacterial plasmids and how are they used in DNA cloning?

Bacterial plasmids are small, circular DNA molecules that replicate independently of the bacterial genome. They are used in DNA cloning as cloning vectors, which are molecules capable of carrying a gene of interest into a host cell. By inserting a gene of interest into a plasmid, researchers can create recombinant DNA. This recombinant DNA can then be introduced into a bacterial host cell, where it will be replicated along with the host's DNA, allowing for the cloning of the gene of interest.

How does the process of DNA cloning work in bacterial cells like E. coli?

In DNA cloning, a specific DNA sequence is first produced through biochemical reactions. This DNA is then inserted into a bacterial plasmid, creating recombinant DNA. The recombinant DNA is introduced into a bacterial cell like E. coli. As the E. coli replicates through its normal processes, it also replicates the recombinant DNA. This results in multiple identical copies of the specific DNA sequence, allowing researchers to clone and study the gene of interest.

What role do cloning vectors play in DNA cloning?

Cloning vectors, such as bacterial plasmids, play a crucial role in DNA cloning by carrying the gene of interest into a host cell. These vectors are capable of replicating independently of the host's genome. By inserting the gene of interest into a cloning vector, researchers create recombinant DNA. This recombinant DNA is then introduced into a host cell, where it is replicated along with the host's DNA, enabling the cloning and study of the gene of interest in genetic experiments.