
Plasmid - Wikipedia
Plasmid Diagram of a bacterium showing chromosomal DNA and plasmids (Not to scale) A plasmid is a small, extrachromosomal DNA molecule within a cell that is physically separated from chromosomal …
Plasmid | DNA replication, genetic engineering, cloning | Britannica
Dec 23, 2025 · Plasmid, in microbiology, an extrachromosomal genetic element that occurs in many bacterial strains. Plasmids are circular deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) molecules that replicate …
Plasmid - National Human Genome Research Institute
3 days ago · A plasmid is a small circular DNA molecule found in bacteria and some other microscopic organisms. Plasmids are physically separate from chromosomal DNA and replicate independently.
What Is a Plasmid in Biology? Its Function and Uses
Aug 23, 2025 · A plasmid is a small, circular, extra-chromosomal DNA molecule found within the cells of many microorganisms. Unlike the main chromosomal DNA, which carries the fundamental genetic …
What Is a Plasmid in Biology and How Does It Work?
Oct 4, 2025 · Once a gene is incorporated, the recombinant plasmid can be introduced into host cells, typically bacteria, for replication. This process allows for the production of numerous gene copies or …
plasmid / plasmids | Learn Science at Scitable - Nature
A plasmid is a small, circular, double-stranded DNA molecule that is distinct from a cell's chromosomal DNA. Plasmids naturally exist in bacterial cells, and they also occur in some eukaryotes.
What is a Plasmid? | Ask A Biologist
Apr 12, 2010 · A plasmid is an independent, circular, self-replicating DNA molecule that carries only a few genes. The number of plasmids in a cell generally remains constant from generation to generation.
Plasmids: Structure, Types, Replication, and Applications
Oct 12, 2025 · The term plasmid refers to a small, circular, extrachromosomal double-stranded DNA molecule that exists naturally in many bacteria, and in some archaea and eukaryotic organisms.
What is a plasmid? | IDT - Integrated DNA Technologies
Dec 4, 2023 · A plasmid is a small circular piece of double stranded DNA that can replicate independently from a host’s chromosomal DNA. A plasmid is distinct from a cell’s chromosomal DNA …
What is Plasmid DNA? Definition & Structure Explained – QIAGEN
A plasmid is a closed circular molecule of double-stranded DNA that range in size from 1 to >200 kb. Plasmids are found in various bacterial species, where they behave as additional genetic units …