5.13b Hosting recombinant DNA

Describe how plasmids and viruses can act as vectors, which take up pieces of DNA, then

insert this recombinant DNA into other cells.

Vector = transfers the gene eg:into the plasmid 

1. 

• Remove the nucleic acid from the virus to get just the Caspid protein shell 
• the plasmids are taken up by the virus 
• the virus acts as a vector of the recombinant DNA - helping us to transfer the DNA into the host cell
  
  
  
  2. 
• This type of virus = a PHAGE 
• it infects bacterial cells
• the virus is able to attach to cell membrane of the bacteria and insert the recombinant DNA into the host cell. 
• the bacterial cell now contains the recombinant DNA and the human gene for insulin. 
• this combination is known as 'Transgenic'