Which Feature, If Changed, Would NOT Abolish M13ʹs Utility as a Cloning

Question

Which feature, if changed, would NOT abolish M13ʹs utility as a cloning vector?
A) ssDNA genome becoming a dsDNA genome
B) loss of genes that make coat proteins
C) replacing the segment of non-coding DNA in its genome with an indispensible gene
D) switch from lysogenic to lytic lifestyle

Accepted Answer

M13's utility as a cloning vector is not inherently dependent on its ssDNA genome being single-stranded; it could still function if it were to become double-stranded (dsDNA), as the key features for its function as a vector (such as the ability to incorporate foreign DNA, the presence of necessary regulatory sequences, and the ability to replicate within a host) are not exclusively tied to the single-stranded nature of its genome.