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Why are plasmids used as vectors in genetic engineering?
Posted June 22, 2020

Answer

Plasmids possess several key features that make genetic engineering more productive.

  • Plasmids are extra-chromosomal, which makes it easier to introduce foreign DNA into a cell than integrating DNA into chromosome.
  • Plasmids are self-replicating, driven by an origin-of-replication.
  • Plasmids are small in size, making it easy to work with and transform into their host.
  • Plasmids usually contain antibiotic resistance genes, enabling the selection for transformed hosts.