Final answer:
Bacteria can produce jellyfish proteins because protein synthesis is similar across species, and through recombinant DNA technology, they can be genetically engineered to express foreign genes, allowing for the mass production of proteins for various applications.
Step-by-step explanation:
We are able to take a gene from an organism such as a jellyfish and place it in another organism such as bacteria because the fundamental process of protein synthesis is essentially the same across all living organisms. This means that the bacterial cellular machinery can read the genetic code from the jellyfish gene and translate it into a functional jellyfish protein, just as it would with its own genes.
Using recombinant DNA technology, scientists create a chimeric molecule by isolating genes from different species and joining them together. Then through the process of transformation, this recombinant DNA is introduced into bacteria. The bacteria begin to use the foreign gene to produce the desired protein, such as insulin for medical treatment, which can then be harvested and used.
This technology is also used in transgenic animals, where the desired genes are cloned and expressed to produce proteins that may require post-translational modifications not possible in bacterial cells. Overall, recombinant DNA technology has revolutionized the production of important proteins for research and medicine, including hormones, interferons, and vaccines.