snip out
Hello!
What is the meaning of 'snip out'?

"Although natural history knowledge points us in the right direction, it doesn’t solve the problems associated with obtaining useful compounds from insects. Fortunately, it is now possible to snip out the stretches of the insect’s DNA that carry the codes for the interesting compounds and insert them into cell lines that allow larger quantities to be produced."

Question

snip out
Hello!
What is the meaning of 'snip out'?

"Although natural history knowledge points us in the right direction, it doesn’t solve the problems associated with obtaining useful compounds from insects. Fortunately, it is now possible to snip out the stretches of the insect’s DNA that carry the codes for the interesting compounds and insert them into cell lines that allow larger quantities to be produced."

Answer

Thank you so much, Kevin!

Answer

Snip suggests the use of scissors to cut something. Snip out suggests using scissors to “cut out” a part of something. In essence, cut a section and remove it. You might use it to describe certain surgical procedures, like “snipping out a section of tumor for analysis”.

In this context it refers to cutting out a length of DNA from the helix (with the goal to insert it elsewhere). It likely isn’t using scissors (!) but the meaning goes beyond the tool used, to give a feel for the action rather than a physical description of events. Basically, there isn’t a better way to say it