Tutoring Biology 12, you sometimes talk about recombinant DNA.  We’ll briefly look at what it is and why it’s used.

Recombinant  DNA (rDNA) contains DNA from more than one organism.  The industrial uses I know of involve inserting specific genes from one species into the DNA of a host.

One application of rDNA is the production of human insulin.  In past times, insulin from cows or pigs was used for treating diabetes.  Not surprisingly, some people had reactions to it; though similar to human insulin, it wasn’t identical.  Now, human insulin can be given.  The human insulin is not produced by humans, though.  Instead, it’s produced by E. coli bacteria whose DNA is recombinant, containing the human gene for insulin production.  Since the E. coli bacteria contain the human insulin gene, they produce human insulin.

Genetic modification is, potentially, a controversial topic.  However, it certainly has some practical uses.

Jack of Oracle Tutoring by Jack and Diane, Campbell River, BC.

Sources:

Biology 12, Module 2:  Cell Biology 2.  2007:  Open School BC.

Inquiry into Life, Eleventh Edition, Sylvia S. Mader.  2006:  McGraw-Hill.