Which statement best describes recombinant DNA in scientific terms?

Which statement best describes recombinant DNA in scientific terms?

• A. DNA that is identical to natural DNA found in a single organism.
• B. DNA formed by combining amino acids into proteins.
• C. DNA used only for storing genetic information in mitochondria.
• D. DNA that has been artificially formed by combining constituents from different organisms.

Answer: (D)

Recombinant DNA is DNA created by joining genetic material from different organisms into one molecule. In practice, scientists cut DNA from various sources, splice the pieces together with enzymes, and often insert the new construct into a plasmid or other vector to introduce it into a host cell. This creates a molecule that carries genes from multiple species, enabling new traits such as producing a human protein in bacteria. The other statements miss the essence: one describes DNA identical to that of a single organism, which isn’t recombinant; another confuses DNA with protein synthesis by amino acids; and another misstates the role of mitochondrial DNA. So recombinant DNA is the artificially formed DNA combining constituents from different organisms.

Recombinant DNA is DNA created by joining genetic material from different organisms into one molecule. In practice, scientists cut DNA from various sources, splice the pieces together with enzymes, and often insert the new construct into a plasmid or other vector to introduce it into a host cell. This creates a molecule that carries genes from multiple species, enabling new traits such as producing a human protein in bacteria. The other statements miss the essence: one describes DNA identical to that of a single organism, which isn’t recombinant; another confuses DNA with protein synthesis by amino acids; and another misstates the role of mitochondrial DNA. So recombinant DNA is the artificially formed DNA combining constituents from different organisms.