In standard molecular cloning experiments, the cloning of DNA fragment involves seven main steps:

1. Isolation of DNA (gene of interest) fragments to be cloned
2. Insertion of isolated DNA into a suitable vector to from the recombinant DNA
3. Introduction of the recombinant DNA into a suitable host organism
4. Selection of the transformed host cells and identification of the clone containing the gene of interest
5. Multiplication/expression of the introduced gene in the host
6. Isolation of the multiplied gene copies/protein expressed by the intro­duced gene
7. Purification of the isolated gene copy/protein