Question

Episomes (term by Jacob and Wollman) are

• A. extranuclear part of Bacteria
• B. toxins producing bodies
• C. extranuclear components with least no. of genes
• D. plasmids with the ability to integrate with bacterial chromosome

Answer 1

Answer: (D)

Episomes are a group of plasmids, which are made up of deoxyribonucleic acids (DNAs). These episomes are capable of giving out some selective advantages upon the bacteria in which they occur. A plasmid is a small extrachromosomal (other than chromosomal genetic material) DNA molecule in a cell that is physically segregated from chromosomal DNA and can duplicate individually. Episomes are also known as mobile genetic elements, designed to integrate into the chromosome following their movement from one cell to another.