The circular piece of DNA from a bacterial cell that is commonly used as a vector in manufacturing recombinant DNA molecules is called a plasmid. Plasmids are small, circular DNA molecules that exist separate from the chromosomal DNA in bacteria. They are often used as vectors to carry foreign DNA, such as a gene of interest, into a host cell for various genetic engineering applications.
Here's how plasmids are involved in the process of manufacturing recombinant DNA molecules:
1. **Isolation**: Plasmids are isolated from bacterial cells using specific techniques that allow researchers to extract these circular DNA molecules intact.
2. **Insertion of Gene**: The gene of interest, which has been cut from its normal location using restriction enzymes, is then inserted into the plasmid. This process creates a recombinant DNA molecule where the gene is now part of the plasmid.
3. **Transformation**: The recombinant plasmid is introduced into a host cell, often a bacterium, where it can replicate along with the host DNA. This allows for the production of multiple copies of the gene of interest.
By utilizing plasmids as vectors, researchers can manipulate and transfer genes between different organisms, enabling the production of proteins, study of gene function, and development of genetically modified organisms.
