Genetic engineering or recombinant DNA technology involves many techniques, basically to cut apart and splice together, to multiply or to insert the gene of interest. Genetic engineering techniques are primarily used for highly sophisticated manipulations of heredity material and some other biologically important chemicals.
Here we have listed some of these techniques with their main purpose or function. These techniques can also be referred as tools or methods of genetic engineering. For details visit the respective page.
| Genetic engineering Techniques or Tools or Methods | Main Purpose or Function |
|---|---|
| Restriction Enzymes | To cut DNA, as per the requirement at specific point |
| DNA Ligase | To splice DNA pieces together |
| Other modifying enzymes (phosphatases, kinase) | In vitro, precise modification of DNA fragments to add, remove or alter the original DNA structure. |
| DNA Polymerases | To synthesize DNA from a pre-existing template |
| Vectors | To carry genetic material into target cell |
| Plasmids, Bacteriophages (phages) | These are commonly used vectors |
| Genetic Markers | Transformed cell identification |
| Gene transfer | Transfer of gene to a living cell. This can be done using various techniques. |
| PCR | Amplification of small fragments of DNA |
| DNA probes | Identification and labeling of piece of DNA with certain sequence. |
| Electrophoresis | Separation of fragments of DNA |
| cDNA | DNA from a mature mRNA template |
| Shotgun | To search for a particular gene in a whole genome |
| Gene synthesis | Synthesizing gene from a scratch |
| DNA sequencing | To read base sequence of a DNA fragment provided |
| Antisense genes | To inhibit gene expression |
| 3D Printing or rapid prototyping | |
| Nano-printing | |