Question

What are ‘molecular scissors’?

Answer 1

‘Molecular scissors’ refer to restriction enzymes or restriction endonucleases that cut DNA molecules at specific sequences. These enzymes act like precise cutting tools that cleave DNA into fragments containing identifiable genes. The ability to cut DNA at specific sites is crucial for recombinant DNA technology, as it allows for the isolation and manipulation of genes. The ‘molecular scissors’ enable researchers to cut both the gene of interest and vector DNA to create recombinant DNA molecules, facilitating gene cloning and genetic engineering. Thus, they play a vital role in the construction of recombinant DNA for various applications in biotechnology.