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 |