BACTERIAL PLASMID Meaning and
Definition
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A bacterial plasmid is a small, circular, double-stranded DNA molecule that exists independently of the chromosomal DNA in bacterial cells. It is found in the cytoplasm of the cell and can replicate autonomously. The size of bacterial plasmids ranges from a few kilobases (kb) to hundreds of kilobases, and they may contain a wide variety of genes.
These DNA molecules are often referred to as extrachromosomal elements since they are separate from the main chromosomal DNA of the bacteria. Bacterial plasmids can be inherited and passed on to daughter cells during cell division, allowing them to carry genetic information that is not essential for the survival of the host bacterium but can provide selective advantages under specific conditions.
Plasmids often contain genes that contribute to the adaptation and survival of bacteria in changing environments. They can carry genes that confer antibiotic resistance, virulence factors, and metabolic pathways. Furthermore, plasmids can also transfer genetic material between different bacterial cells through a process called conjugation, which allows the spread of beneficial genes throughout microbial populations.
Studying bacterial plasmids is crucial for understanding the genetic basis of antibiotic resistance, as they are one of the main mechanisms responsible for the rapid spread of resistance genes among bacteria. Manipulating plasmids has also become an important tool in biotechnology and genetic engineering, as scientists can introduce genes of interest into plasmids and use them as vectors to transfer those genes to bacteria or other organisms.
Common Misspellings for BACTERIAL PLASMID
- vacterial plasmid
- nacterial plasmid
- hacterial plasmid
- gacterial plasmid
- bzcterial plasmid
- bscterial plasmid
- bwcterial plasmid
- bqcterial plasmid
- baxterial plasmid
- bavterial plasmid
- bafterial plasmid
- badterial plasmid
- bacrerial plasmid
- bacferial plasmid
- bacgerial plasmid
- bacyerial plasmid
- bac6erial plasmid
- bac5erial plasmid
- bactwrial plasmid
- bactsrial plasmid
Etymology of BACTERIAL PLASMID
The word "bacterial" is derived from the Latin word "bacterium", which in turn comes from the Greek word "bakterion", meaning "small staff". "Bacterium" is the singular form of "bacteria", which refers to a large group of microscopic organisms that are unicellular and have prokaryotic cells.
The term "plasmid" comes from the Greek word "plasma", which means "something formed". In biology, a plasmid refers to a small, circular, double-stranded DNA molecule that is separate from the chromosomal DNA and can replicate independently within a cell. The concept of a plasmid was first introduced by Joshua Lederberg and Edward Tatum in 1946 while studying the genetic transfer between bacteria.
Therefore, the term "bacterial plasmid" refers to a small, circular DNA molecule that exists in bacteria, separate from the chromosomal DNA.
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