Question

In traditional recombinant DNA technology, a desirable gene from one organism is inserted into the DNA of a host organism. However, to create a synthetic life form, Craig Venter’s team actually builds the entire DNA molecule from individual DNA nucleotides. Why would it be harder to create a synthetic life form than to use recombinant DNA technology

Answer 1

The construction of a synthetic life form is much more challenging than traditional recombinant DNA technology because it requires building an entire genome from the ground up, as opposed to manipulating existing DNA to include a new gene.

Step-by-step explanation:

Creating a synthetic life form is more complex than using traditional recombinant DNA technology because it involves synthesizing an entire genome from scratch, which is a laborious and intricate process. In recombinant DNA technology, researchers take a desired gene from one organism and insert it into the DNA of a host organism. This process, aided by techniques such as the use of restriction enzymes, ligation, and transformation into host cells, is more straightforward compared to the synthesis of an entire genome, which requires accurate assembly of millions of nucleotides and ensuring that the resultant synthetic genome can support life and replicate within a host cell.

Additionally, in creating a synthetic life form, it's imperative to design a functional genome that includes not just one gene but all the genetic material necessary for the organism's survival, including regulatory elements, genes for metabolic pathways, and components critical for cellular processes. The complexity, design considerations, and need for precision in synthetic genome creation pose significant challenges that go beyond what's required for inserting a single gene or a few genes into a host's DNA.

Answer 2

The correct answer is "In order to create a synthetic life form it would be necessary to know the function of every gene and include them in the organism".

Step-by-step explanation:

The most common approach of studies using recombinant DNA technology is to insert a desirable gene from one organism into a host organism. This approach is much more feasible that creating a synthetic life form because, in order to create a synthetic life form, it would be necessary to know the function of every gene and include them in the organism. Even though the whole DNA sequence of many organisms is known (including humans), the function of the entire sequences of the genome is yet to be understood.