What is a plasmid? How is a plasmid used in gene slicing?

It is a circular piece of DNA that acts as a vector (a carrier of the gene). it attaches to the gene that is to be genetically engineered to form recombinant DNA (combined DNA of two different organisms). It allows the gene to be carried to a host cell to be replicated producing many identical genes. To cut open the plasmid requires an enzyme called restriction endonuclease and to stick the gene into the plasmid requires an enzyme called ligase.


A plasmid is an independent, circular, self-replicating DNA molecule that carries only a few genes found in prokaryotes (bacteria).

A plasmid is a circular segment of DNA with an origin of replication. It can be duplicated and serve as an adjunct to the main bacterial chromosome.

A plasmid is a cyclic two-strand part of DNA which is contained in bacteria. All in all, it's 1-2% of the bacterial DNA. A bacteria can contain 1 or more plasmids.

Plasmids contain genes, which in turn, contain:
- Information about immunity to certain antibiotics
- Information about the transfer of traits to other bacteria

Viruses, plasmids...