Recombinant DNA Lab

On January 13th, 2016, we did a recombinant DNA lab since we recently learned about recombinant DNA. My partner and I chose to use the kanamycin restriction enzyme for our project. Restriction enzymes are enzymes that cut DNA when they read a specific sequence. The enzyme had to cut near the insulin gene. If we had used an enzyme that cut the plasmid in two places, part of the plasmid sequence would be lost and it would not work. This process is important to everyday life because everyday new antibiotics are created and this process helps. This process could also be used to make mutant animals. Imagine seeing a monkey-elephant walking down the street. That would be awesome. Very awesome. Or seeing a tiny, bacteria sized dog. That would be cute.