Final answer:
Major advances in recombinant DNA technology include the large-scale isolation of proteins for pharmaceuticals, creation of GMOs, and refinement of techniques like PCR for genetic analysis.
Step-by-step explanation:
Recombinant DNA technology has seen many advances in recent years, significantly impacting fields like biotechnology, forensic science, and medicine.
One of the major advances is the ability to isolate proteins in large quantities, which has led to the production of numerous recombinant products such as growth hormones, insulin, and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH).
This has revolutionized the treatment of various diseases, especially genetic disorders. In addition, recombinant DNA technology has enabled the creation of genetically modified organisms (GMOs), which produce beneficial proteins like vaccines.
Applications of recombinant DNA technology extend to agriculture, where it aids in the development of herbicide-resistant and insect-resistant crops, and to pharmaceutical production, resulting in products such as antibiotics, vaccines, and hormones.
The Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) is another significant advance in this technology, allowing for the amplification of DNA or RNA sequences, which is critical for genetic testing, fingerprinting, and projects such as the Human Genome Project.
Additional techniques in recombinant DNA technology include molecular cloning, involving the use of restriction enzymes and ligation, and blue-white screening for selecting bacterial transformants with recombinant plasmids.
Overall, the advances in recombinant DNA technology have opened new doors in genetics and biotechnology, improving our capabilities to diagnose, treat, and understand various biological and medical conditions.