Govt. Exams
Entrance Exams
Plasmids are small, circular DNA molecules found in bacteria that can replicate independently and serve as excellent vectors for genetic engineering in prokaryotes.
DNA ligase catalyzes the formation of phosphodiester bonds between adjacent nucleotides, effectively sealing nicks in the DNA backbone and joining DNA fragments together.
Restriction endonucleases (restriction enzymes) cut DNA at specific palindromic sequences, making them essential tools in genetic engineering for creating recombinant DNA.
The Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) is the competent authority under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change that reviews and approves GM crops for environmental release and commercialization in India.
Plasmids, bacteriophages, and cosmids are all used as vectors for gene transfer. Mitochondria cannot be used as vectors because they have their own DNA replication system independent of the cell's machinery.
Restriction endonucleases are molecular scissors that recognize and cut DNA at specific palindromic sequences. This is essential for creating recombinant DNA molecules.
Golden Rice contains beta-carotene, a precursor to Vitamin A, which is added to combat Vitamin A deficiency in developing countries. It was developed using genes from daffodil and bacterium Erwinia uredovora.
Cas9 is an endonuclease enzyme that cuts DNA at specific sites guided by RNA. DNA polymerase synthesizes DNA, reverse transcriptase converts RNA to DNA, and ligase seals DNA strands.
HT Mustard (DHM-11) was approved for cultivation in India in 2022, engineered with herbicide tolerance for better weed management.
Bt cotton contains the Cry1Ac gene from Bacillus thuringiensis, which produces toxins lethal to cotton bollworm larvae, reducing pesticide use significantly.
