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Name: Asam R.
Status: Student
Age: 12
Location: N/A
Country: N/A
Date: March 2004
Question:
In bacterial transformation, the plasmid serves to hold the piece of foreign DNA to be inserted. Why can't we simply insert the single stranded DNA directly into the bacteria?


Replies:
Bacteria don't have a nucleus to store their DNA. In the cytoplasm it is subject to enzymes which attempt to break it down from the ends called exonucleases. By forming their DNA into a circle the ends are protected.

vanhoeck


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