Q.
An extra-chromosomal, self-replicating part of the cell that has proven to be a boon to biotechnology is:
1112
187
NTA AbhyasNTA Abhyas 2020Biotechnology and its Applications
Report Error
Solution:
Plasmids are extra-chromosomal, self-replicating. Usually, circular, double-stranded DNA molecule found naturally in many bacteria. Scientists have taken advantage of plasmids to use them as tools to clone, transfer, and manipulate genes. Plasmids that are used experimentally for these purposes are called vectors. Researchers can insert DNA fragments or genes into a plasmid vector, creating a so-called recombinant plasmid. This plasmid can be introduced into a bacterium by way of the process called transformation. Then, because bacteria divide rapidly, they can be used as factories to copy DNA fragments in large quantities.
In1993, Eily Lilly, an American company prepared two-DNA sequences corresponding to A and B, chain of human Insulin and introduced them in a plasmid of E. coil to produce Insulin chains, chain A and B. Each chain was produced separately, then extracted and combined by creating disulfide bonds to form human Insulin (humulin).