Technology is equipment used to do something or make something. Biochemical technology or biotechnology refers to the use of living organisms for the formation of products useable by humans. Recombinant DNA technology is one type of biotechnology.

List the steps involved in forming recombinant DNA, and include the names of the enzymes involved. Also provide an example of the use of this technology.

Recombinant DNA technology involves the creation of hybrid DNA molecules by combining DNA sequences from different sources. Here are the steps involved in forming recombinant DNA:

1. Isolation of DNA: The first step is to isolate DNA from different sources. For example, DNA can be obtained from bacteria, animals, or plants.

2. Cutting DNA with restriction enzymes: Restriction enzymes are used to cut the DNA at specific recognition sequences or sites. These enzymes recognize and cut the DNA at particular nucleotide sequences. Examples of restriction enzymes include EcoRI, BamHI, and HindIII.

3. Vector preparation: A vector is a DNA molecule that is used to carry the desired DNA sequence into a host organism. Common vectors used in recombinant DNA technology are plasmids, which are small, circular DNA molecules found in bacteria. The chosen vector is cut with the same restriction enzyme used in step 2.

4. Ligation: The cut DNA fragment from step 2 and the vector from step 3 are mixed together with an enzyme called DNA ligase. DNA ligase helps join the sticky ends of the DNA fragments by creating covalent bonds.

5. Transformation: The recombinant DNA molecule, now incorporating the desired DNA fragment, is introduced into a host organism. In the case of bacteria, this is typically done through a process called transformation. The host organism takes up the recombinant DNA molecule and begins to replicate it.

6. Selection and screening: To identify the host cells that have successfully incorporated the recombinant DNA, selective markers are usually introduced alongside the target DNA. These markers can be antibiotic resistance genes, for example. The host cells that have taken up the recombinant DNA and successfully replicated it will survive and multiply in the presence of the antibiotic.

7. Harvesting and purification: Finally, the harvested host cells containing the desired recombinant DNA are grown and the recombinant DNA is extracted and purified using various techniques like centrifugation and filtration.

One example of the use of recombinant DNA technology is the production of insulin. Previously, insulin used for the treatment of diabetes was obtained from the pancreas of pigs or cows. However, through recombinant DNA technology, the human insulin gene can be inserted into bacterial cells. These bacteria then produce and secrete human insulin, which can be harvested and used for therapeutic purposes.