Genetic Engineering

We can use a process called gel electrophoresis to separate the pieces

Figure 20.x1a Laboratory worker reviewing DNA band pattern

Gel Electrophoresis• Moves DNA because it is negative

• Separates DNA fragments based on size

• The smaller the fragment the farther it will move

• Can compare DNA from individuals

Gel Electrophoresis

Figure 20.17 DNA fingerprints from a murder case

Figure 20.9 Using restriction fragment patterns to distinguish DNA from different alleles

Recombinant DNA

When a piece of foreign DNA (in purple) is added to a bacterial plasmid (a circular piece of DNA in bacteria), the end result is known as recombinant DNA

How to make recombinant DNA: take a gene (piece of DNA) from a human cell and combine it with a plasmid from a bacteria using restriction enzymes.

Recombinant DNA: making plants glow