What does the term “recombinant DNA” refer to in biotechnology?

JAMB Agricultural Science 2023 9 views

What does the term “recombinant DNA” refer to in biotechnology?

  1. DNA extracted from ancient fossils
  2. DNA modified to contain genes from different organisms ✓
  3. DNA replicated using polymerase chain reaction (PCR)
  4. DNA synthesized in a laboratory

Explanation

Recombinant DNA is genetic material modified to contain genes from different organisms. Scientists cut DNA from one organism and insert it into another, creating new genetic combinations.

Applications in agriculture: Bt crops (contain bacterial genes for pest resistance), herbicide-tolerant crops, and crops with improved nutritional content (Golden Rice with vitamin A).

This differs from: fossil DNA (ancient), PCR (copying existing DNA), and synthesized DNA (made artificially). Recombinant DNA specifically combines genes from different sources.

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