Simply put, recombinant DNA technology is the transfer of a gene from one organism into another organism. More specifically, it is a set of techniques used for cutting apart and splicing together different pieces of DNA. Pieces of foreign DNA are put into another cell or organism and continue to produce their own coded proteins or substances within the new entity. The cell becomes a factory for the production of these foreign proteins. These techniques are also referred to as the practice of biotechnology.
Believe it or not, biotechnology is not a new innovation. The same ideas are behind the production of certain foods, such as bread, wine, cheese and beer. Today, the term refers more to genetic engineering. Biotechnology research is the production of natural human components, usually proteins, in certain quantities to be used in the production of pharmaceuticals or other forms of therapy. By using the age-old process of fermentation, these proteins are placed in bacteria, yeast cells, or cultured animal cells where they will multiply and can be cultivated for medical research purposes. When proteins are added to such cells, they are called recombinant cells, the basis for recombinant DNA technology.
Techniques for the insertion of foreign genes into bacteria were first developed in the early 1970s. A prime example of how recombinant DNA technology is used to treat illness is the production of insulin for diabetic patients. When the pancreas of someone with diabetes can no longer produce insulin, the patient must look elsewhere for substance to regulate their blood sugar level. In the 1920s, scientists began extracting insulin from the pancreas of animals to treat diabetics. This was proven successful, but concerns rose about the long-term effects of the treatment and the availability of animal insulin.
In 1978, Herbert Boyer at the University of California at San Francisco used recombinant DNA technology to treat diabetic patients differently and more effectively. First, a synthetic human insulin gene was constructed by figuring out the exact sequence of amino acids found in human insulin DNA and chemically synthesizing it. This is then introduced into bacterial cells (Boyer used Eschericia coli) to make the human protein. As mentioned earlier, in order to do this, the foreign DNA is inserted into a plasmid, or a small circle of DNA that serves as a carrier. The product is a recombinant plasmid carrying the human gene. This plasmid is then reintroduced into another bacterial cell, where the human gene on the plasmid can be read by the cell's protein-making machinery where it multiplies. In 1982, Boyer’s company, Genentech, successfully developed recombinant human insulin, the first product of biotechnology as we know it today.
Technology such as this was a breakthrough in the medical field. The approach is more common now, as other similar methods directly or indirectly isolating human DNA are used often. Today, this technology is at the forefront of cancer research. For example, Aptanomics SA, a specialist in recombination DNA technology for drug discovery, and Nanosyn Inc, a chemistry-based company applying its technology for the design, synthesis and analysis of small organic compounds for the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries, are now combining efforts. They recently announced their collaboration to discover new cancer drugs. Advocates for recombinant DNA technology hope that this innovation will help find a cure for cancer and other debilitating human diseases.
By Kelley Caner