What are plasmids? Describe their role in bacteria?
Ans.
The bacterial cell consists of genomic DNA as well as a small circular DNA. This circular DNA is a plasmid which is used to transfer information from one cell to another. The plasmid is used to track bacterial transformation with foreign DNA. It develops unique phenotype characteristics in the bacteria like the resistance to antibiotics. It also enables the bacterial cell to metabolize nutrients. It also facilitates the conjugation of bacteria. In modern experiments, plasmids are used to develop cloning vectors.