What's the difference between Phage DNA and Recombinant DNA Genetic engineering: In my textbook the following sentences describe the two, but to me they seem the same: * The new combination of bases in the DNA (vector DNA + DNA fragment) is called **recombinant DNA**. * With bacteriophage vector, the bacteriophage will infect the bacteria by injecting its DNA into it. **The Phage DNA** (with the desired gene in it) then integrate into the bacterial DNA. Without going too much into it. What is the difference between Phage DNA and recombinant DNA?

**Phage DNA** is the DNA in a bacteriophage.

**Recombinant DNA** is synthetically combined DNA used in genetic engineering.

In your case, since the phage's DNA is used as a vector, the phage DNA _is_ the recombinant DNA, but that does not mean every phage's DNA is recombinant, since phages occur naturally. The point is, the phage DNA was altered to _become_ recombinant DNA.