A.

By using the techniques of genetic engineering, scientists are able to modify genetic material so that a particular gene of interest from one cell can be incorporated into a different cell. The first step in cloning a gene is to isolate the DNA from the organism that contains the gene of interest. The isolated DNA is purified and then fragmented with a restriction enzyme. Restriction enzymes used in cloning produce staggered cuts in specific sequences in the DNA, generating fragments with cohesive ends. Each fragment has a single-stranded sequence of nucleotides on its ends that are capable of hybridizing ith DNA that has been fragmented with the same restriction enzyme. The DNA fragments are then incorporated into plasmids. The type of plasmid used for cloning has a single restriction site, and when cleaves by the restriction enzyme, generates the same cohesive ends that are in the fragments of the DNA to be cloned. The cohesive extensions will form hydrogen-bonded base pairs with complementary singlestranded stretches on other DNA molecules cut with the same enzyme. The unions formed in this way are only temporary. The DNA fusions can be made permanent, however, by the enzyme DNA ligase, which seals the strands by catalyzing the formation of phophodiester bonds. The next step is to incorporate the plasmid into bacterial host cells by transformation. The cells can now be placed in a medium, and the colony of cells containing the desired cloned gene can then be identified and isolated. B. To determine whether the gene was successfully incorporated, we can synthesize a probe complementary to it. A nucleic acid probe is the complementary molecule in nucleic acid hybridization that is a short and single stranded nucleic acid that can be either RNA or DNA. A radioactive tag can then be used to label the probe. The probes will hydrogen-bond specifically to complementary single strands of the desired gene. After separating the DNA strands in the bacterium (using chemicals or heat), the probe will bind with its complementary sequence, tagging colonies with the targeted gene. C. One way recombinant DNA is involved in the biomedical field is with the HGH hormone. A specific strain of E.coli is used during the formation of human growth hormone by DNA recombination techniques. A vector plasmid is extracted from the used strain and the right genetic information is incorporated into its sequence. After protein translation and formation of the product, the hormone is fermented and purified to give a pure preparation that is safe for human use. Studies show that the two growth hormone preparations possess exactly the same biological effects; without any toxigenic or mutagenic effects.