Explain the features of cloning vectors.

Explanation

Genetic engineering or Genetic surgery The method of isolating or synthesizing the desired gene and its insertion in the genome of the other organisms to produce hybrid DNA or recombinant DNA is called genetic engineering. II Maintenance of sterile environment Tools used in genetic engineering are as follows. 1. Desired gene 2. Vector or Vehicle DNA 3. Enzymes. 4. Host cell 5. Bioreactors 1. Desired gene: The gene of interest which is also called desired gene or foreign DNA, has to be obtained from its source or is to be synthesized artificially in the lab. 2. Vectors : These are molecular vehicles which carry the desired gene from one organism to the other organism. There are different types of vectors namely plasmids, bacteriophages, cosmids,phasmids etc {cosmid means plasmid + cohesive ends of phage DNA, pasmid means phage DNA +a small part of plamid} Plasmids : The small circular and extra chromosomal double stranded DNA molecules present in the cytoplasm of bacteria are called plasmids. They show self replication. They contain 2 to 8 thousands of nitrogen base pairs. They also conrain some genes for expression of some characters. They can be cut at specific sites using restriction enzymes and desired genes can be inserted into these plasmids.There are different kinds of plasmids. e.g. F-plasmid [Sex, plasmid ],R-plasmid [resistant plasmid],col plasmid [collicins-that kill some strains]. In addition to these there are some genetically engineered plasmids like pBR-322 [Plasmid of Boliver and Rodriguez] and pUC-18 [Plasmid of University of California]