What is another word for restriction nuclease?
Pronunciation: [ɹɪstɹˈɪkʃən njˈuːklɪˌe͡ɪs] (IPA) 
Restriction endonucleases, commonly known as restriction enzymes, are naturally occurring proteins that cleave DNA at specific sites. These enzymes are widely used in molecular biology for applications such as DNA fingerprinting, gene mapping, and gene cloning. Other synonyms for the term "restriction nuclease" include "molecular scissors" and "genetic knives." Another related term is "methyl-sensitive restriction enzyme," which cleaves DNA only if specific DNA methylation patterns are absent. While restriction endonucleases were originally discovered in bacteria, they are now widely used in many areas of research. With the ability to cleave DNA at specific locations, restriction enzymes have revolutionized many fields of molecular biology.
