A plasmid without a selectable marker was chosen as a vector for cloning a gene. How does this affect the experiment?
The selectable marker helps in identifying and eliminating non-transformant DNA and in selectively permitting the growth of transformants. In the absence of a selectable marker, it will not be possible to differentiate between transformants and non-transformants. Thus, carrying the experiment to its logical end would be impossible in the absence of a selectable marker.