biotechnology

• Gene isolation


  1. DNA containing the target gene needs to be extracted

  2. Isolated DNA is fragmented into smaller pieces using restriction endonuclease enzyme

  3. DNA fragments are separated using agarose gel electrophoresis

  4. Probe (single stranded DNA segment) is used to identify the gene of interest

  5. Probe hybridises with the complementary region on the single stranded DNA

  6. Gene library may be utilised to identify the desired gene

  7. DNA fragment containing the gene is amplified using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR)
• Restriction endonuclease enzyme


  Enzyme used to fragment the isolated DNA into smaller pieces
• Agarose gel electrophoresis


  Technique used to separate DNA fragments based on their varying sizes
• Probe


  Single stranded DNA segment used to identify the gene of interest
• Hybridisation reaction


  Process where the probe binds to the complementary region on the single stranded DNA
• Gene library


  Collection of bacterial colonies, each containing a different DNA fragment, used to identify the desired gene
• Polymerase chain reaction (PCR)


  Rapid and efficient method to generate millions of copies of a DNA sequence