Restriction endonuclear… what?
The students in Freiburg set their sights on building a new set of chemical shears, called restriction endonucleases. The project combines parts of enzymes to create one that, with the help of an adapter, recognizes parts of DNA and is capable of separating it in an easier and more precise manner than existing methods that exist in nature and the field of genetic engineering.
If the shears work, they'll likely end up in every genetic engineer's tool box. The Freiburg researchers know they are setting a high goal for themselves.
"Scientists have tried to do it in the past and failed," molecular biology student Kristian Mueller said. "But new methods have been discovered that have convinced us now is the right time for this experiment."
