Biotechnology- Principles and Processes Question 43

43. In bacteria, plasmid is

(a) extra-chromosomal material

(b) main DNA

(c) non-functional DNA

(d) repetitive gene

Show Answer

Answer : a

Hints & Solutions

(a) A plasmid is an independent, circular, self-replicating DNA molecule that carries only a few genes. The number of plasmids in a cell generally remains constant from generation to generation. Plasmids are semi-autonomous molecules and exist in cells as extra chromosomal genomes, although some plasmids can be inserted into a bacterial chromosome, where they become a permanent part of the bacterial genome.