2005 National DNA Day Online Chatroom Transcript
This is just one question from an archive of the National DNA Day Moderated Chat held in April 2005. The NHGRI Director and many genomics experts from across NHGRI took questions from students, teachers and the general public on topics ranging from basic genomic research, to the genetic basis of disease, to ethical questions about genetic privacy.
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What are restriction enzymes and how are they used in genetic engineering?
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Belen Hurle, Ph.D.: Hello, Helena. Restriction enzymes are part of the immune system of bacteria. They recognize short sequences in the DNA of infecting phages and cut the DNA (DNA degradation). In genetic engineering they are used as "scissors" that allow researchers to chop big pieces of DNA in a controlled way for analysis and further manipulation. |
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