Biologically Active Substance
plasmid
plas·mid [ plaz-mid ]
Subclass of:
Genetic Structures
Definitions related to plasmids:
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A small cellular inclusion consisting of a ring of DNA that is not in a chromosome but is capable of autonomous replication.NCI ThesaurusU.S. National Cancer Institute, 2021
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Double-strand, closed DNA molecules found in cytoplasm of a variety of bacterial species that generally confer some evolutionary advantage to the host cells.CRISP ThesaurusNational Institutes of Health, 2006
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Extrachromosomal, usually CIRCULAR DNA molecules that are self-replicating and transferable from one organism to another. They are found in a variety of bacterial, archaeal, fungal, algal, and plant species. They are used in GENETIC ENGINEERING as CLONING VECTORS.NLM Medical Subject HeadingsU.S. National Library of Medicine, 2021
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Plasmid, in microbiology, an extrachromosomal genetic element that occurs in many bacterial strains. Plasmids are circular deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) molecules that replicate independently of the bacterial chromosome. They are not essential for the bacterium but may confer a selective advantage.Encyclopedia Britannica, Inc., 2020
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