Explain the mechanism of action of restriction endonucleases that makes them suitable for genetic engineering

Explanation

Restriction enzymes recognize a specific sequence of nucleotides i.e., specific palindromic base sequence in the DNA and produce a double-stranded cut in the DNA at the sugar-phosphate backbone of both strands of the double helix at specific points in the palindromic sequence. The recognition sequences can also be classified by the number of bases in its recognition site, usually between 4 and 8 bases, many of them are palindromic, meaning the base sequence reads the same backwards and forwards. EcoRI digestion produces "sticky" ends, whereas Smal restriction enzyme cleavage produces "blunt" ends Recognition sequences in DNA differ for each restriction enzyme, producing differences in the length, sequence and strand orientation (5. end or 3. end) of a sticky-end "overhang" of an enzyme restriction. When cut by the same restriction enzyme, the resultant DNA fragments have the same kind of .sticky-ends. and these can be joined together using DNA ligases. The foreign DNA and vector DNA are cut by same restriction enzymes.