Abstract

Gene cloning or molecular cloning is an important step in recombinant DNA technology wherein a sequence of one or more DNA fragment is introduced into another DNA sequenced for the purpose of amplification or functional studies. It is also used for downstream applications such as sequencing, mutagenesis, genotyping or heterologous expression of a protein. The traditional techniques of gene cloning involve the transfer of DNA fragment of interest from one organism to a self-replicating genetic element such as a bacterial plasmid. The process involves amplification of the desired gene fragment, splicing of the gene with restriction enzyme, if required and ligating into a plasmid. The final assembly includes promoter element fused to a reporter gene under the control of a ubiquitous promote.  The assembly is then  inserted  into  a host,  which  may  be  an eukaryotic or a prokaryotic cell. Gene cloning is important to many areas of modern biology and medicine.