2005 Volume 74 Issue 1 Pages 60-64
DNA is basically manipulated with plastic tools and chemical-grade reagents, and DNA samples used in experiments are purified by phenol extraction and ethanol precipitation. Because DNA specifically absorbs UV light of 260 nm, we can determine DNA concentration using a spectrophotometer. The primary structure of DNA (i.e., nucleotide sequence) is analyzed by recombinant DNA technology, enzyme reaction such as DNA synthesis, and gel electrophoresis. On the other hand, the structure of DNA strands can be easily estimated by nucleic acid hybridization as well as restriction enzyme digestion. Recombinant DNA technology enables the propagation of DNA molecules in living cells. DNA, however, can also be amplified by PCR in vitro. Experiments on genome-level gene structure and gene expression are also included in gene technology.
