# Plasmid --- A **plasmid** is an extrachromosomal [[DNA]] structure that can replicated indipendently, generally found in [[bacteria]] or protozia, though sometimes found in eukaryotes as well. They are generally small and circular, and have genes that, while are not essential to survival, are benificial in certain situations or conditions. A single organsim might have from 1 to thousands of copies of the same plasmid. ## Components of Plasmid The three componenets (for our purposes) of a **plasmid** are: - The origion of replication - Antiboitic resistant [[gene]] - Cloning site with [[transcription#Promoters|promoters]] and restriction sites. ## Plasmid Transfer Plasmids can transfer from one bactera to another during [[bacteria#Reproduction|conjugation]]. ## Plasmid in Biotech Because of their nature, and the ability for some bacteria to take up plasmids into themselves, plasmids ar every useful in biotechnology. Plasmids are used in cloning in order to sequence a gene or produce a protein. ### Plasminds in Recombinant DNA ___