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The recombinant DNA technology (rDNA) is utilized mainly for two types of cloning namely reproductive and therapeutic cloning. Reproductive cloning will create a life form with the same genetic information of the one that exists already. This technique has been already carried out with some animals. A sheep known as Dolly was the first mammal to be reproduced as a precise genetic copy. Therapeutic cloning is utilized in the reproduction of certain tissues or organs and not a complete organism.

Utilization of recombinant DNA technology for the purpose of therapeutic cloning has immense deal of benefits. For instance, an organ that is cancerous could be replaced with a new one prepared from the own DNA of the patient. This would possibly help to minimize the rejection of organs that occurs occasionally when a transplant of the organ is carried out. If an organ like heart is injured, it could even be replicated with the aid of this technology. Despite the fact that these applications may be many years from practical use, they are future possibilities.

Some of the examples of the therapeutic products prepared from recombinant DNA techniques include blood proteins (Erythropoietin, Factors VII, VIII, IX, Tissue plasminogen activator and Urokinase), human hormones (Epidermal growth factor, Follicle stimulating hormone, Insulin, Nerve growth factor, Relaxin, Somatotropin), immune modulators ( Interferons, Colony stimulating factor, Lysozyme and Tumor necrosis factor) and vaccines (Cytomegalovirus, Hepatitis B, Measles and Rabies).

The rDNA techniques of gene alteration, cloning and expression were initially developed in bacteria but are now applied functionally in a diversity of model eukaryotes. Even though eukaryotic genes are cloned and sequenced with the aid of bacterial hosts, it is often advantageous to introduce such genes back into the original eukaryotic host or into another eukaryote to create a transgenic eukaryote. The likelihood of transgenic modification of eukaryotes such as plants and animals (also humans) creates many novel research opportunities.