What term describes DNA that has been artificially created by splicing together fragments from different sources?

Recombinant DNA refers to DNA molecules that have been formed by combining genetic material from different sources. This process typically involves the use of molecular cloning techniques, where specific segments of DNA are cut and then joined together to create new sequences. Scientists may splice together genes from different organisms, leading to the synthesis of new genetic combinations that can result in novel traits or functions. This technology has vast applications in biotechnology, medicine, and agriculture, such as developing insulin through genetically modified bacteria or creating crops with improved resistance to diseases.

In contrast, mutation refers to a permanent alteration in an organism’s DNA sequence, which occurs naturally or can be induced by environmental factors but does not involve the intentional combination of genetic material from different sources. The genome represents the complete set of genetic material of an organism, including all of its genes but does not specifically refer to artificially created DNA. Polyploid describes a condition in which an organism has more than two complete sets of chromosomes, which is a natural phenomenon rather than an artificial combination of DNA sequences. Thus, recombinant DNA is the precise term for the artificially created DNA formed by splicing together fragments from different sources.