Host Cells Containing Recombinant DNA Can Be Selected on the Basis

Question

Host cells containing recombinant DNA can be selected on the basis of the properties of the
A) vector.
B) ribosomes.
C) enzymes.
D) virus.
E) introns.

Accepted Answer

The properties of the vector are crucial in selecting host cells containing recombinant DNA. The vector should have a selectable marker gene, which allows for the selection of host cells that have taken up the recombinant vector. This selectable marker gene may provide resistance to antibiotics or confer a metabolic trait such as fluorescence, allowing transformed cells to be isolated from non-transformed cells. Ribosomes, enzymes, viruses, and introns do not play a direct role in selecting host cells containing recombinant DNA.