A scientist wants to insert a new gene into a bacterium. What is the first step in this process?

a) bonding the gene into a plasmid with enzymes.

b) placing the changed plasmid into bacteria.

c) inserting the gene into a plasmid.

d) cutting the gene out of DNA with enzymes.

Option D, cutting the gene out of DNA with enzymes

Explanation:

The first step in inserting a new gene into a bacterium is the separation of gene (to be inserted) from the parent cell DNA

Restriction enzyme (RE) is a DNA cutting enzyme which is used to cut this DNA. RE identifies a specific target sequence with in a DNA and then cut the DNA into two pieces either at or near the site.

For example - Human insulin gene is separated from the DNA of human and then inserted into plasmid of bacteria.

cutting the gene out of the DNA with enzymes