Definition for Bacteriophage lambda
From Biology Forums Dictionary
A virus which infects E. coli , and which is often used in molecular genetics experiments as a vector, or cloning vehicle. Recombinant phages can be made in which certain non-essential l DNA is removed and replaced with the DNA of interest. The phage can accommodate a DNA "insert" of about 15-20 kb. Replication of that virus will thus replicate the investigator's DNA. One would use phage l rather than a plasmid if the desired piece of DNA is rather large.
