Why is it useful to include an antibiotic resistance gene in a plasmid vector?
Answer and explanation
Correct answer: D. So that cells with the plasmid can be selected
- Step 1: Only bacteria that have taken up the plasmid carry the resistance gene.
- Step 2: When grown with the antibiotic, only those cells survive, so they can be selected.
Answer
So that cells with the plasmid can be selected.
Why not the others: So that the host cell makes more of the inserted protein: this is not its purpose. So that the plasmid can cut DNA: this is the role of restriction enzymes. So that the host cell becomes dangerous: this is not the aim.
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