Study of cloning vectors..
plasmids,cosmids,bacteriophage,yeast,In biotechnology, a cloning vector is a DNA molecule used to carry foreign DNA into a host cell, where it can be replicated and/or expressed. Essentially, it's a vehicle for transferring genetic material for cloning, which is the process of creating multiple copies of a specific DNA sequence. Common types of cloning vectors include plasmids, bacteriophages, cosmids, and artificial chromosomes. Origin of Replication (ori):
A specific DNA sequence that allows the vector to replicate independently within the host cell.
Multiple Cloning Site (MCS):
A region with several unique restriction enzyme recognition sites where the foreign DNA fragment can be inserted.
Selectable Marker:
A gene that provides a way to identify host cells that have successfully taken up the vector, often conferring antibiotic resistance.
Types of Cloning Vectors:
Plasmids:
Small, circular DNA molecules found in bacteria that can replicate independently. They are widely used as cloning vectors due to their ease of manipulation and ability to carry relatively small DNA inserts.
Bacteriophages:
Viruses that infect bacteria. Some bacteriophages can be engineered to carry foreign DNA and are used as vectors.
Cosmids:
Hybrid vectors combining features of plasmids and bacteriophages, allowing them to carry larger DNA fragments than typical plasmids.
Artificial Chromosomes:
Engineered chromosomes that can carry very large DNA fragments. Examples include Yeast Artificial Chromosomes (YACs) and Bacterial Artificial Chromosomes (BACs).
How Cloning Vectors are Used:
1. Insert DNA:
The gene of interest is cut out of a source DNA using restriction enzymes and then ligated (joined) into the cloning vector.
2. Transformation:
The recombinant vector (vector with the inserted DNA) is introduced into a host cell (often bacteria).
3. Selection:
Cells that have taken up the vector are identified using the selectable marker (e.g., antibiotic resistance).
4. Replication and Expression:
The vector replicates within the host cell, producing many copies of the inserted DNA. If needed, the gene can also be expressed, producing the corresponding protein. A cloning vector is a small piece of DNA that can be stably maintained in an organism, and into which a foreign DNA fragment can be inserted for cloning purposes. The cloning vector may be DNA taken from a virus, the cell of a higher organism, or it may be the plasmid of a bacterium.