Objectives for Gene Cloning Part 1

This lesson describes how DNA molecules can be recombined to make recombinant DNA and how special DNA molecules called plasmids allow scientists to clone genes.

Objectives: At the completion of this lesson you should be able to:

  1. Define gene cloning, gene library, plasmid, recombinant plasmid and vector.  
  2. Outline and describe the steps of the process used to make genomic and cDNA libraries.  
  3. Explain the role of antibiotic resistance and selectable marker genes in the gene cloning process.  
  4. Contrast libraries that use plasmids as vectors to BAC or YAC libraries.

Copyright 2003

Development of this lesson was supported in part by Cooperative State Research, Education, & Extension Service, U.S. Dept of Agriculture under Agreement Number 98-EATP-1-0403 administered by Cornell University and the American Distance Education Consortium (ADEC). Any opinions, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Next Page