What is DNA cloning?

DNA cloning is a molecular biology technique that makes many identical copies of a piece of DNA, such as a gene. It typically involves inserting the DNA fragment of interest into a vector (e.g., a plasmid) and then introducing this recombinant DNA into a host cell (e.g., bacteria). The host cell replicates the vector and the DNA insert, creating multiple copies of the original DNA fragment. This process is commonly used for gene sequencing, protein production, and creating genetically modified organisms.