It is a circular piece of DNA that acts as a vector (a carrier of the gene). it attaches to the gene that is to be genetically engineered to form recombinant DNA (combined DNA of two different organisms). It allows the gene to be carried to a host cell to be replicated producing many identical genes. To cut open the plasmid requires an enzyme called restriction endonuclease and to stick the gene into the plasmid requires an enzyme called ligase
Plasmids are used in genetic engineering to reproduce RECOMBINANT genetic material. When a plasmid is inserted a bacterium, the bacterum is encouraged to multiply, creating more copies of the recombinant DNA.
