Question

Explain the mechanism of action of restriction endonucleases that makes them suitable for genetic engineering.

Answer 1

Each restriction endonuclease recognizes a specific palindromic base sequence in foreign DNA and cuts the sugar-phosphate backbone of both strands of the double helix at specific points. These ends are called sticky ends. The sticky ends of 2 different molecules of DNA cut by the same restriction endonuclease are then joined by ligase to form a recombinant DNA.