5.12 Restriction and Ligase enzymes

Describe the use of restriction enzymes to cut DNA at specific sites and ligase enzymes to join pieces of DNA together

1. Restriction enzymes 

• are enzymes that cut DNA molecules at specific points
• different restriction enzymes cut DNA at different places
• they can be used to cut specific genes from a molecule of DNA 

2. DNA ligases 

• are enzymes that join cut ends of DNA molecule