Recombinant DNA (rDNA) technology is the technique of manipulating the genome of a cell or an organism to bring about a desired phenotypic change.
Steps involved in rDNA technology:
- Identifying the donor cell and isolating its DNA
- Fragmenting the DNA using ‘molecular scissors’ (restriction enzymes)
- Screening the fragmented DNA for the desired gene
- Inserting the desired DNA fragment into a cloning vector to produce the recombinant DNA
- Introducing the recombinant vector organism in the desired host cell
- Culturing the recombinant cells to obtain multiple copies of the desired DNA fragment
- These DNA fragments are then used to transform desired host cells where the expression of the gene is desired Therapeutic products obtained by rDNA technology
Blood proteins, such as erythropoietin, Factor VII, VIII and IX, tissue plasminogen activator, urokinase
Human hormones, including epidermal growth factor, follicle-stimulating hormone, insulin, nerve growth factor, relaxin, somatotropin
Immune modulators, such as α-interferon, β-interferon, colony stimulating factor, lysozyme, tumour necrosis factor
Vaccines, such as cytomegalovirus vaccine, hepatitis B vaccine, measles vaccine, rabies vaccine.