Final answer:
The process of altering DNA by combining pieces from different sources is known as recombinant DNA technology, involving the use of restriction enzymes and DNA ligase.
Step-by-step explanation:
The practice of altering DNA by splicing parts of one into another is known as recombinant DNA technology. This technology involves using restriction enzymes to splice DNA at specific points so that a new piece of DNA can be inserted into the sequence. Subsequently, DNA ligase is used to stitch together the new foreign gene to the existing piece of DNA. The resulting recombinant DNA can be replicated, transcribed, and translated within an organism. This process is critical in various applications, including gene editing through CRISPR, where guide RNAs lead nucleases to specific DNA locations allowing for precise DNA alterations. Additionally, alternative RNA splicing is a related, but distinct, natural cellular mechanism in which variations in the splicing of RNA lead to the production of different protein products from a single gene, contributing to the complexity of gene regulation in eukaryotes.