NEETZoologyBiotechnology - Principles and Processes
What is the main advantage of vectors used in genetic engineering?
Options
- AThey help in selection of recombinants from non-recombinants
- BThey make it difficult to link foreign DNA
- CThey reduce the copy number of bacteriophage or plasmid genome
- DThey do not have any advantage
Correct answer
A. They help in selection of recombinants from non-recombinants
Step-by-step solution
You know that plasmids and bacteriophages have the ability to replicate within bacterial cells independent of the control of chromosomal DNA. Bacteriophages because of their high number per cell, have very high copy numbers of their genome within the bacterial cells. Some plasmids may have only one or two copies per cell whereas others may have 15-100 copies per cell. Their numbers can go even higher. If we are able to link an alien piece of DNA with bacteriophage or plasmid DNA, we can multiply its numbers equal t