What are the differences between plasmid DNA and genomic DNA?

Question

Accepted Answer

Plasmid DNA and genomic DNA are two types of DNA in living organisms. There are several differences between the two.

Basis of Differentiation

Plasmid DNA

Genomic DNA

Definition

Is extrachromosomal DNA found in prokaryotes such as bacteria, and a few eukaryotes

Is the chromosomal DNA of living organisms that contain genetic information and is found in both prokaryotes as well as eukaryotes

Size

Smaller than chromosomal DNA

Larger than plasmid DNA

Shape

Is circular in shape

May be linear or circular in shape

Occurrence

Is separated from bacterial genomic DNA

Floats freely in the cytoplasm of bacterial cells and found in the nucleus in eukaryotic cells

Number of strands

Is always double-stranded

May be single-stranded or double-stranded

Histone proteins

Histone proteins are not present

Coated with histone proteins

Importance in cell functioning

Is not essential for functioning of the cell

Is vital for proper cell functioning and
reproduction

Self-replication

Contains the origin of replication and is naturally self-replicating without the help of the main genome

Has a lower rate of replication and can only replicate with the help of the genome

Transfer

Is transferred by horizontal gene transfer

Is transferred during cell division

Genetic factor

Doesn’t act as a genetic factor

Is an essential genetic factor

Use in recombinant DNA technology

Is a widely used cloning vector in recombinant DNA technology

Is not used as a vector in recombinant DNA technology

Basis of Differentiation	Plasmid DNA	Genomic DNA
Definition	Is extrachromosomal DNA found in prokaryotes such as bacteria, and a few eukaryotes	Is the chromosomal DNA of living organisms that contain genetic information and is found in both prokaryotes as well as eukaryotes
Size	Smaller than chromosomal DNA	Larger than plasmid DNA
Shape	Is circular in shape	May be linear or circular in shape
Occurrence	Is separated from bacterial genomic DNA	Floats freely in the cytoplasm of bacterial cells and found in the nucleus in eukaryotic cells
Number of strands	Is always double-stranded	May be single-stranded or double-stranded
Histone proteins	Histone proteins are not present	Coated with histone proteins
Importance in cell functioning	Is not essential for functioning of the cell	Is vital for proper cell functioning and reproduction
Self-replication	Contains the origin of replication and is naturally self-replicating without the help of the main genome	Has a lower rate of replication and can only replicate with the help of the genome
Transfer	Is transferred by horizontal gene transfer	Is transferred during cell division
Genetic factor	Doesn’t act as a genetic factor	Is an essential genetic factor
Use in recombinant DNA technology	Is a widely used cloning vector in recombinant DNA technology	Is not used as a vector in recombinant DNA technology