to drive the plasmid into the competent cell using heat shock treatment.
Plasmids are extrachromosomal DNA that can replicate autonomously and can be found in living cells . In one cell, more than one plasmid can be found with varying sizes, but all plasmids do not encode functions that are important for the growth of these cells. Generally, plasmids encode the genes needed to survive in adverse conditions so that if the environment returns to normal, plasmid DNA can be discarded.
The plasmid includes any genetic material that is extracromosomally present for at least a portion of the replication cycle, including viral genetic material. However, the idea of plasmids was refined from time to time to consist of genetic elements that reproduce autonomously. Then in 1968, it was decided that the definition be narrowed down to genetic elements that existed exclusively or dominantly outside the chromosome and could be replicated independently. Not long after that, plasmids were shown to be extrachromosomal DNA that causes antibiotic resistance in enteric bacteria and can be transmitted between cells. . Since then, several laboratories have begun making plasmids that can be transferred to living cells, such as bacterial and plant cells.
In order for plasmids to replicate independently in cells, they must have a DNA sequence that can act as the origin of replication. The self-replicating unit, in this case the plasmid, is called a replicon. A typical bacterial replica can consist of a number of elements such as genes for plasmid-specific replication initiation proteins, repeating units called iterons, DnaA boxes, and AT-rich regions next to them. Smaller plasmids use the host replication enzyme to make their own copies
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Plasmids : https://brainly.com/question/2176915
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Class: high school
Subject: biology
Keywords : Plasmids, DNA, cells, genetic
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