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mohammad8725
Guest
What do Plasmids in Animal Cells Do? 
Any Help is appreciated. Thanks!!!
Any Help is appreciated. Thanks!!!
Plasmid are usually found in only organelles like mitochondria and chloroplasts. This is because billions of years ago these organelles we once bacteria that were engulfed by an animal cell and developed a symbiotic relationship with the animal cell. Most animals cells can not replicate plasmid from one generation to another and the plasmid must be incorporated into a chromosome… Though I think some plants can carry and replicate plasmids in their nuclei.
pumpkinsaren'torange
Registered Senior Member
DNA duplex
& a plasmid has to be inserted, via a vector of some sort, inside of its host (like bacteria.) which will then replicate independently of host's genetic makeup.
& a plasmid has to be inserted, via a vector of some sort, inside of its host (like bacteria.) which will then replicate independently of host's genetic makeup.
A plasmid is a ring of DNA containing a few genes...bacteria trade plasmids with eachother like trading cards
pumpkinsaren'torange
Registered Senior Member
Nenar!
yay!! *is quite surprised* a man of science that has managed to retain his sense of humor! btw...what types of cards might the little buggers be trading..?
yay!! *is quite surprised* a man of science that has managed to retain his sense of humor!
btw...what types of cards might the little buggers be trading..?
Antibiotic resistant Babe Ruths for one!
paulsamuel
Registered Senior Member
reply
a plasmid IS a vector
a plasmid IS a vector
paulsamuel
Registered Senior Member
reply
actually, the mitochondrial and chloroplast genomes are NOT considered plasmids.
actually, the mitochondrial and chloroplast genomes are NOT considered plasmids.
and why is that?
paulsamuel
Registered Senior Member
reply
because plasmids are small circular bits of DNA that are transferable between bacterial cells. that is how they are vectors, or used as vectors in cloning. mitochondrial and chlorplast genomes don't have these characteristics.
because plasmids are small circular bits of DNA that are transferable between bacterial cells. that is how they are vectors, or used as vectors in cloning. mitochondrial and chlorplast genomes don't have these characteristics.
There is no physical difference between a plasmid and the main chromosome of bacteria, plasmids though can replicate on their own and some are dispensable but that’s all. Many plasmids are essential to a bacteria’s survival and can be considers part of the bacteria’s genome as another chromosome. Some plasmids can insert them selves into another plasmid or main chromosome (episomes).
pumpkinsaren'torange
Registered Senior Member
well, yes and no...i mean, it can be considered one given the circumstances involved...take a further look into the definitions of plasmids and vectors. thanks.
plasmids stored genes. Unlike in higher life forms like us a plasmid chromosome is a circular piece of DNA that is super coiled and has no protein superstructure. The main way plasmids are traded is by F pili: A bacteria will come up to another bacteria, a connection will be made (a pilus), the plasmid will reproduce and the replicated plasmid (single stranded dna) strand will be pumped into the recipient bacteria, once in it new host the replicated plasmid will become double stranded and connects it ends together to form a circular piece of dna… some plasmids will incorporate them selves into the host chromosome then (a episome). The normal circular dna of bacteria as has no name and can be referred as a plasmid at times.
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paulsamuel
Registered Senior Member
reply to pumpkinsaren'torange and WellCookedFetus
the reason I am calling all plasmids vectors; vectors carry things from one place to another. because one of the characteristics of plasmids is the ability to leave one individual organism or cell and enter another, makes them vectors. in this sense all plasmids are vectors, however, not all vectors are plasmids. You said, "a plasmid has to be inserted, via a vector of some sort," which is wrong as plasmids are the vectors themselves and are able to enter another cell(or bacteria) without help from any other vector.
the reason plastid genomes (and prokaryotic genomes; from which plastid genomes are presumably derived) are NOT plasmids is because they lack this characteristic (or ability) of moving between individuals or individual cells. Although prokaryotes can exchange genomic DNA through conjugation, this is very different than plasmid transfer. Plasmids and plastid genomes do share some characterisitics, i.e. circular dsDNA, but plastid genomes (and prokaryotic genomes) are much much larger than plasmids.
WellCookedFetus; I admire your willingness to look-up and research points of discussion. Your desription of plasmid transference between bacteria was limited to F-factors. This is not how all plasmids are transferred. For example, competent bacteria (those bacteria with pili) can take-up any plasmids in the environment without the need of other bacteria or direct transfer. In fact, that's how it's done in a cloning lab; the plasmid vectors, already circular and double-stranded and containing the insert gene of interest, are mixed with the competent bacteria and shocked with heat or electricity and the plasmids are taken-up by the bacteria.
It's thought that the production of pili by bacteria is a response to some environmental stress. These pili facilitate the exchange of plasmids and would be selected for if the individuals have a better chance of surviving environmental stress with plasmid exchange than without.
the reason I am calling all plasmids vectors; vectors carry things from one place to another. because one of the characteristics of plasmids is the ability to leave one individual organism or cell and enter another, makes them vectors. in this sense all plasmids are vectors, however, not all vectors are plasmids. You said, "a plasmid has to be inserted, via a vector of some sort," which is wrong as plasmids are the vectors themselves and are able to enter another cell(or bacteria) without help from any other vector.
the reason plastid genomes (and prokaryotic genomes; from which plastid genomes are presumably derived) are NOT plasmids is because they lack this characteristic (or ability) of moving between individuals or individual cells. Although prokaryotes can exchange genomic DNA through conjugation, this is very different than plasmid transfer. Plasmids and plastid genomes do share some characterisitics, i.e. circular dsDNA, but plastid genomes (and prokaryotic genomes) are much much larger than plasmids.
WellCookedFetus; I admire your willingness to look-up and research points of discussion. Your desription of plasmid transference between bacteria was limited to F-factors. This is not how all plasmids are transferred. For example, competent bacteria (those bacteria with pili) can take-up any plasmids in the environment without the need of other bacteria or direct transfer. In fact, that's how it's done in a cloning lab; the plasmid vectors, already circular and double-stranded and containing the insert gene of interest, are mixed with the competent bacteria and shocked with heat or electricity and the plasmids are taken-up by the bacteria.
It's thought that the production of pili by bacteria is a response to some environmental stress. These pili facilitate the exchange of plasmids and would be selected for if the individuals have a better chance of surviving environmental stress with plasmid exchange than without.
Yes that true but most plasmids are nature transmitted through pilii and so I felt that was the only one to discuss.
Also pulling out a genetics book that I can't trade in is not much of researching a topic... don't start disrespecting people or you might find everyone correcting every minor error you make and claiming your stupid for not mentioning something because truthfully you did not have the time.
Also pulling out a genetics book that I can't trade in is not much of researching a topic... don't start disrespecting people or you might find everyone correcting every minor error you make and claiming your stupid for not mentioning something because truthfully you did not have the time.
hei fetus,
i don't think paulsamuel was being sarcastic here. He was probably sincere when he said that he admired your willingness to look-up and research points of discussion.
He just pointed out a detail that happens to be a very important detail. And personally I agree with him this time.
edit: thought I might have been unclear and added a bit
i don't think paulsamuel was being sarcastic here. He was probably sincere when he said that he admired your willingness to look-up and research points of discussion.
He just pointed out a detail that happens to be a very important detail. And personally I agree with him this time.
edit: thought I might have been unclear and added a bit
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And I thought I mention that detail?
yeah, but you also know that I am a very lazy reader and obviously I missed that...stupid me...again
pumpkinsaren'torange
Registered Senior Member
paulsamuel
yes, you are correct...but, you know me...everthing in a nutshell;D a plasmid is a plasmid is a plasmid, HOWEVER a plamid CAN BECOME a vector when being used by researchers to introduce/trasfer material into bacterial cells. in otherwords a plasmid, by means of the very action its causing "becomes" or "turns into" a vector; vector, meaning "carrier". btw...yeah, as improbable as it seems, although rare, plasmids can also be found in eukaryotic cells...not only in the DNA of bacterium.
yes, you are correct...but, you know me...everthing in a nutshell;D a plasmid is a plasmid is a plasmid, HOWEVER a plamid CAN BECOME a vector when being used by researchers to introduce/trasfer material into bacterial cells. in otherwords a plasmid, by means of the very action its causing "becomes" or "turns into" a vector; vector, meaning "carrier". btw...yeah, as improbable as it seems, although rare, plasmids can also be found in eukaryotic cells...not only in the DNA of bacterium.