Which restriction enzyme is commonly used for digesting DNA?

EcoRI is a widely used restriction enzyme for digesting DNA due to its ability to cleave specific sequences of DNA. This enzyme recognizes the palindromic sequence GAATTC and cuts between the G and A nucleotides. The result is sticky ends, which are essential for many molecular biology applications, such as cloning and recombinant DNA technology, where researchers often need to splice DNA fragments together. Its importance lies in its reliability, efficiency, and the fact that it has been extensively characterized and utilized in various laboratory protocols. The prevalence of EcoRI in molecular cloning experiments makes it a fundamental tool in the field of genetics and biotechnology.