Skip to main content
Helicase

Recombinant DNA

DNA joined from different sources, the starting point of genetic engineering and of medicines such as recombinant insulin.Source: NHGRISource: Cohen et al., 1973Source: Johnson, 1983

Step 1 of 7ReadingTechnology or method

How it works

Scientists cut a gene out of one organism's DNA and paste it into another, so that organism makes something new.

Enzymes cut DNA at specific sequences, and the pieces are joined into a carrier such as a bacterial plasmid. Cells that take up the plasmid copy it and can produce the protein the gene encodes.

Restriction enzymes and ligases assemble recombinant molecules that replicate in a host. Expression systems produce proteins such as insulin; regulators assess the safety of the organisms and products.

Used for
  • Insulin and other protein medicines
  • Research tools in almost every biology lab
  • Enzymes used in food and industry

Safety and ethics

At the 1975 Asilomar conference, scientists concluded that this research should proceed only under strict guidelines. Risk-based biosafety containment and oversight remain standard practice.
See it in the Biotechnology lab

How Recombinant DNA connects

Recombinant DNA uses

  • Level of life

    DNA

    The molecule that stores the genetic instructions of all cellular life: two strands wound into a double helix and held together by base pairs.

    Open in DNA & Genetics Lab

  • Organism or group

    Bacteria

    Small single-celled organisms without a nucleus, found almost everywhere on Earth. Most bacteria in the human body are harmless, and some are helpful.

    Open in Microbe Lab

Recombinant DNA raises questions of

  • Ethics and safety

    Biosafety

    Risk-based practices and containment that protect people and the environment when working with biological agents.

Recombinant DNA is used by

Explore further

Open in Biotech LabIn the knowledge graphFind papers about Recombinant DNA

Your progress

Next: PCR

Sources & further reading

The explanations on this page are our own summaries of these sources. Follow a link to read the original; if anything here disagrees with it, the original wins. How we choose and check sources.

  2. Construction of biologically functional bacterial plasmids in vitro (opens the original in a new tab)

    Cohen SN, Chang AC, Boyer HW, et al. (1973). Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 70:3240-3244.

    Recombinant plasmids that replicate in bacteria.

    Historical paperPrimary research

  5. Summary statement of the Asilomar conference on recombinant DNA molecules (opens the original in a new tab)

    Berg P, Baltimore D, Brenner S, et al. (1975). Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 72:1981-1984.

    Scientists' own guidelines for the safe conduct of recombinant DNA research.

    Peer-reviewedPerspective