1. Plasmids are small, extra-chromosomal, double stranded circular forms of DNA that replicate autonomously.
2. They are seen in bacterial cells, yeast and animal cell.
3. Plasmids are considered as replicons as they are capable of autonomous replication in suitable host.
4. The most commonly used vectors in r-DNA technology are plasmids as they replicate in E. coli.
Plasmid as a cloning vector should have a replication origin, a marker gene for antibiotic resistance, control elements like promoter, operator, ribosome binding site, etc. and a region where foreign DNA can be inserted. Naturally plasmids do not have all these features. Hence, they are constructed by inserting gene for antibiotic resistance. pBR 322, pBR320, paCYC177 are the constructed plasmids.
Ti plasmid (for tumor-inducing) of Agrobacterium tumefaciens is an important vector for carrying new DNA in many plants. It contains a transposon, called T DNA, which inserts copies of itself into the chromosomes of infected plant cells. The transposon, with the new DNA, can be inserted into the host cell’s chromosomes. A plant cell containing this DNA, can then be grown in culture or induced to form a new, transgenic plant.
