Genetic Engineering
We can use a process called gel electrophoresis to separate the pieces
Figure 20.x1a Laboratory worker reviewing DNA band pattern
Gel Electrophoresis• Moves DNA because it is negative
• Separates DNA fragments based on size
• The smaller the fragment the farther it will move
• Can compare DNA from individuals
Gel Electrophoresis
Figure 20.17 DNA fingerprints from a murder case
Figure 20.9 Using restriction fragment patterns to distinguish DNA from different alleles
Recombinant DNA
When a piece of foreign DNA (in purple) is added to a bacterial plasmid (a circular piece of DNA in bacteria), the end result is known as recombinant DNA
How to make recombinant DNA: take a gene (piece of DNA) from a human cell and combine it with a plasmid from a bacteria using restriction enzymes.
Recombinant DNA: making plants glow