How are scientists able to cut particular genes from a strand of DNA or RNA in cells or other microorganisms in a lab

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Cells and microorganisms are already so small, that I find it hard to imagine how someone can be looking through a microscope with tiny scissors or something cutting DNA or RNA from the nucleus of a cell. Also they are able to cut specific genes from those strands of DNA/RNA. How do they even read the genes. Also then how do they extract it out the cell and then insert it in another, or set it aside etc.

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Anonymous 0 Comments

The most common/simplest way is to not cut it at all, but to instead just copy the small region you want many, many times using PCR.

In PCR you make two short sequences called primers that will bind specifically to either side of the region you want to amplify. These are typically made based on sequencing data you can find online but in some cases you might need to sequence the DNA yourself to know how to target either side. The actual primers are made by companies you can just order them online. You then add an enzyme which will copy everything between the primers many times (like 2^30 times, massive numbers) and you are left with a solution that is essentially 99.99% the sequence you want.

Interestingly, you can add some chemicals that glow when amplification happens and use a machine to look for their glow and this is how PCR tests (such as COVID tests) work.

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