Recombinant DNA, or rDNA, is DNA that has been artificially altered in a laboratory. The purpose of recombinant DNA is to get an organism to express a trait that it did not have before the addition of the new DNA. This can be accomplished in several ways, but typically involves splicing a genetic sequence into a plasmid, which is then absorbed by a bacterium. The use of recombinant DNA has become somewhat commonplace in recent decades.
Insulin
One use of recombinant DNA is the mass production of human insulin by microorganisms to be used by diabetics.
Crops
One of the most common applications is in agriculture. Crops are frequently given additional genes to make them more resistant to pests or low-water intake.
Environmental Cleanup
Recombinant DNA has also been applied to the cause of environmental cleanup. Bacteria have been altered to be capable of digesting oil spills.
Research
The use of recombinant DNA also allows researchers to create large numbers of identical genes, which makes standardization of results more easily attainable.
Controversy
When first introduced, the rDNA controversy centered on the potential human and environmental impact that might occur. The controversy has shifted in recent years to legal and ethical grounds.
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