Recombinant DNA Technology

Definition

Recombinant DNA technology is the process by which new combinations of DNA are generated through the combination of two different sources.

Analogy

Imagine you're making a scrapbook with pictures from two different vacations. You cut out parts from both sets of photos and paste them together into one page - creating something new from existing elements. That's what we do with recombinant DNA technology but with pieces of DNA instead!

Related terms

Plasmids: These are small, circular pieces of DNA found in bacteria that can replicate independently. They're often used as vectors in recombinant DNA technology.

Genetic Engineering: This is the direct manipulation of an organism’s genome using modern DNA technology, including recombinant DNA technology.

Transgenic Organisms: These are organisms that have been genetically modified by inserting DNA from another organism using recombinant DNA technology.