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Bacterial Plasmids

  1. Christopher M Thomas1,
  2. David Summers2

Published Online: 15 SEP 2008

DOI: 10.1002/9780470015902.a0000468.pub2

Book Title

eLS

eLS

Additional Information

How to Cite

Thomas, C. M. and Summers, D. 2008. Bacterial Plasmids. eLS. .

Author Information

  1. 1

    University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK

  2. 2

    University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK

Publication History

  1. Published Online: 15 SEP 2008
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Abstract

Plasmids are nonessential genetic elements that can maintain accessory genetic information and facilitate infectious spread of the genes they carry. They regulate their own replication and transmission and were largely responsible for the proliferation of antibiotic resistance during the second half of the twentieth century.

Keywords:

  • extrachromosomal DNA;
  • gene cloning;
  • antibiotic resistance;
  • gene transfer;
  • DNA replication
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