| − | A plasmid is an independent, circular, self-replicating [[DNA molecule]] that carries only a few genes. [http://lifesciences.asu.edu/resources/mamajis/plasmids/plasmids.html] | + | A plasmid is an independent, circular, self-replicating [[DNA molecule]] that carries only a few genes. [http://lifesciences.asu.edu/resources/mamajis/plasmids/plasmids.html] Plasmids often contain genes for anti-biotic resistance and are used often in biological transformation experiments as a check to see if the implanted genes worked (if the cell is resistant to a particular anti-biotic that has a resistance gene on the plasmid with the gene of interest the cells will live in the environment with the anti-biotic; eliminating any cells who did not accept the plasmid) |