[18] Bacterial Cloning Flashcards
What is bacterial cloning?
The process of creating identical copies of a bacterium by introducing a piece of foreign DNA into it.
What is the typical host organism used in bacterial cloning?
Escherichia coli (E. coli)
Why is E. coli commonly used in bacterial cloning?
It is easy to grow, has a short generation time, and can be easily manipulated genetically.
What is a plasmid in bacterial cloning?
A small, circular piece of DNA that is separate from the chromosomal DNA and can replicate independently.
What is the role of plasmids in bacterial cloning?
Plasmids serve as vectors to carry the foreign DNA into the host bacterium.
What is the process of transformation in bacterial cloning?
The procedure in which plasmid DNA is introduced into a bacterium.
What is the function of a selectable marker in bacterial cloning?
A gene on the plasmid that allows for the identification of bacteria that have been successfully transformed.
What is a common selectable marker used in bacterial cloning?
Antibiotic resistance genes.
How does an antibiotic resistance gene work as a selectable marker?
Bacteria that have been transformed with the plasmid can survive in the presence of the antibiotic, while non-transformed bacteria cannot.
What is a cloning vector?
A DNA molecule used to deliver foreign genetic material into a cell.
What are common cloning vectors used in bacterial cloning?
Plasmids, bacteriophages, and cosmids.
What is a bacteriophage?
A virus that infects bacteria.
What is a cosmid?
A type of plasmid that is packaged into a bacteriophage particle to infect bacteria.
What is a multiple cloning site (MCS)?
A short region of DNA containing multiple restriction enzyme recognition sites that allows for the insertion of foreign DNA.
MCS - Initials
Multiple Cloning Site
