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 …
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 - National Human Genome Research Institute
2 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.
Plasmids – Definition, Structure, Types, and Uses
Jan 21, 2026 · What Is a Plasmid? A plasmid is a small, circular (or sometimes linear) DNA molecule that exists independently of the main chromosomal DNA within a cell. Most plasmids are double …
Plasmid | DNA replication, genetic engineering, cloning | Britannica
Feb 7, 2026 · Plasmid, in microbiology, an extrachromosomal genetic element that occurs in many bacterial strains. Plasmids are circular deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) molecules that replicate …
Plasmids 101: What is a plasmid? - Addgene
Jan 14, 2014 · What is a plasmid? At their most basic level, plasmids are small circular pieces of DNA that replicate independently from the host's chromosomal DNA. They are mainly found in bacteria, …
What Is a Plasmid in Bacteria and What Does It Do?
Aug 21, 2025 · For instance, plasmids are engineered to produce proteins like human insulin or vaccines by inserting the relevant gene into a plasmid, which is then introduced into bacteria. Plasmids are …
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.
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.