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The Function and Organization of Plasmids

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E. coli Plasmid Vectors

Part of the book series: Methods in Molecular Biology™ ((MIMB,volume 235))

Abstract

In 1952, Joshua Lederberg coined the term plasmid to describe any bacterial genetic element that exists in an extrachromosomal state for at least part of its replication cycle (1). As this description included bacterial viruses, the definition of what constitutes a plasmid was subsequently refined to describe exclusively or predominantly extrachromosomal genetic elements that replicate autonomously. Plasmids are now known to be present in most species of Eubacteria that have been examined, as well as in Archaea and lower Eukarya (2).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biomolecular Sciences, University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology, Manchester, UK

    Finbarr Hayes

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  1. Finbarr Hayes
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of California at Berkeley, School of Public Health, Berkeley, CA

    Nicola Casali

  2. Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK

    Andrew Preston

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Hayes, F. (2003). The Function and Organization of Plasmids. In: Casali, N., Preston, A. (eds) E. coli Plasmid Vectors. Methods in Molecular Biology™, vol 235. Humana Press. https://doi.org/10.1385/1-59259-409-3:1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1385/1-59259-409-3:1

  • Publisher Name: Humana Press

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-58829-151-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-59259-409-2

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