Genetic Engineering and Gene Cloning

DNA from a gene contains hundreds to thousands of nucleotide units for which the sequence is needed in order to interpret its code. Sequencing methods require only small amounts (5 (tg) of purified DNA, which can be produced by cloning. Automated sequencers are available that can daily sequence DNA containing hundreds of nucleotide units. 

In the human cell there are 23 pairs of chromosomes containing approximately 3000 million base pairs of DNA. Short sequences of DNA, perhaps with as few as 20 nucleotide units and sometimes radiolabeled, can be obtained either by chemical synthesis (gene machine) or from cloning. These short sequences can be used to probe for a complementary sequence by looking for the position to which they bind to any DNA sample under investigation, from blood for example. Such probes can detect as little as 100 fg of DNA and are the basis of forensic genetic fingerprinting tests. 

DNA sequence data have been used to investigate inherited diseases such as hemophilia and muscular dystrophy, and also in cancer research. 

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