In this article we will discuss about the purpose and basic steps of genetic engineering. Purpose of Genetic Engineering: The interest in genetic engineering principally is due to its varied applications (Fig. 22.1): 1. Production of varieties of plants having particular desirable characteristics (e.g., resistance or tolerance to disease, drought, 'development of CMS line, etc.). 2. Improvement in the production [...]
The following points highlight the two main types of screening techniques. The types are: 1. Colony Hybridisation Technique 2. Blotting Techniques. Type # 1. Colony Hybridisation Technique: This technique has been developed by Gaustein and Hogness (1975). It requires the radioactively labelled DNA probe with a sequence complementary to at-least one part of the desired DNA. The probe may be [...]
The following points highlight the five main enzymes involved in genetic engineering. The enzymes are: 1. Restriction Endonuclease 2. DNA Ligase 3. Alkaline Phosphatase 4. DNA Polymerase and the Klenow Fragment 5. Reverse Transcriptase. Genetic engineering became possible with the discovery of mainly two types of enzymes: the cutting enzymes called restriction endonucleases and the joining enzymes called ligases. Restriction [...]