Prokaryotic cell DNA can be found in two locations:
1. Nucleoid: main DNA of the cell.
The genetic material of a prokaryote consists of a single chromosome consisting of a circular DNA molecule (genophore) |
3.2 PLASMID DNA
Skill:
3.2.U2 Some prokaryotes also have plasmids but eukaryotes do not.
3.2.U2 Some prokaryotes also have plasmids but eukaryotes do not.
Objectives:
- Describe the structure and function of plasmid DNA.
Plasmids are small, circular DNA molecules that contain only a few genes and are capable of self-replication
- Plasmids are present in some prokaryotic cells, but are not naturally present in eukaryotic cells
- This exchange of genetic material allows bacteria to evolve new features within a generation (horizontal gene transfer)
Overview of Bacterial Conjugation