Question Details

The DNA molecule used for integrating foreign gene for cloning is called

Options

A

vector

B

transformer

C

carrier

D

template

Correct Answer :

vector

Solution :

The correct option is vector.

Step-by-Step Explanation:

1. Understanding Clones and Gene Integration:
In molecular biology, recombinant DNA technology is used to insert a specific foreign gene of interest into a host cell so that the gene can be replicated (cloned) or expressed. However, a foreign DNA fragment cannot replicate on its own inside a host cell because it lacks an origin of replication.

2. The Role of a Vector:
To overcome this replication problem, the foreign gene is integrated or spliced into a carrier DNA molecule. This carrier DNA molecule is called a vector (or cloning vector). Commonly used vectors include plasmids (circular, double-stranded DNA molecules found in bacteria) and bacteriophages (viruses that infect bacteria).

3. Why Other Options are Incorrect:
- Transformer: This refers to an organism or cell that has undergone genetic transformation, or to genetic material that induces transformation, rather than the DNA molecule carrier itself.
- Carrier: While vectors act as "carriers" in a general linguistic sense, "carrier" is not the specific, standard scientific term used for the DNA molecule itself in cloning.
- Template: A template DNA is a strand of DNA that serves as a guide or pattern for the synthesis of a complementary DNA or RNA strand during processes like PCR or transcription, not the vehicle used to integrate and replicate a foreign gene in a host.

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