The cloning vector can be the small piece of the DNA in which the far-off DNA is inserted for cloning. The vector might be the DNA molecule that doesn’t carry the far-off DNA in the host cell. It has the capability of self-replication and integration in the host cell. The vectors have played a crucial role in the analysis of the molecular structure of the DNA. Vectors often tend to be plasmid from a bacterium, cells from the upper organism, or the DNA from the epidemic. The target DNA gets inserted at precise sites of the vector and ligated by the DNA ligase. Next, the vector is changed into a host cell for replacement.

The Features of the Cloning Vectors

The features of the cloning vectors are as follows.

The cloning vector must possess the origin of replication so that it can self-replicate within the host cell.
It should be confined for insertion of target DNA.
It must have a marker that is selectable with antibiotic resistance gene which helps in screening recombinant organisms.
It must be small in size so that it can be easily integrated within the host cell.
It must be capable of inserting the outsized segment of the DNA.
It must possess multiple cloning sites.
It must work under eukaryotic and prokaryotic systems.

The Different Types of the Cloning Vectors

Some of the different types of cloning vectors are Plasmids, Bacteriophage, Phagemids, bacterial artificial chromosomes, and others. We will take a brief look at some of the types of cloning vectors.

Plasmids

These were the main vectors that were used in gene cloning.
These vectors are found in eukaryotes, archaea, and bacteria.
These are extrachromosomal, self-replicating, natural DNA molecules.
These vectors possess antibiotic-resistant genes with high copy numbers.
They encode the proteins that are essential for their self-replication.
pBR322, F-plasmid, pUC18 are some of the instances of the plasmid vectors.

Bacteriophage

These vectors are better than the plasmids for the cloning of large DNA insertions.
Phage λ and the M13 phage are the most common types of bacteriophages in gene cloning.
53 kb DNA is often packed in the bacteriophage.
Screening of the phage plaques is easier than screening the recombinant bacterial colonies.

Conclusion

The cloning vectors are the small pieces for inserting the foreign DNA into another cell and then making numerous copies for the equivalent. The foreign DNA gets expressed and replaced using host cell machinery. It amplifies a single copy of the DNA into several copies.

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FAQs on Cloning Vector

1. What is the cloning vector?

The cloning vector is the small piece of the DNA in which the far off DNA is inserted for cloning. The vector might be the DNA molecule that won’t carry the far off DNA in the host cell. The cloning vector has the capability of integration and cell replication in the host cell. The DNA that is targeted is inserted in the precise sites of the vector and then litigated by the DNA ligase.

2. What is the definition of plasmids?

Plasmids are the main vectors that are used in gene cloning. The plasmids are found in the eukaryotes, archaea, and bacteria. These are the natural, self-replicating, extrachromosomal DNA molecules. The plasmids possess antibiotic resisting genes with high copy numbers. They encode the proteins which are essential for self-replication, pUC18, pBR322, F-Plasmid are common examples of the plasmid vectors. The plasmids occupy a very significant place in the process of gene cloning.

3. What are Phagemids and their different features?

The Phagemids are the artificial vectors. The Phagemids are utilised with the combination of M13 phage. These artificial vectors have numerous cloning sites and the inducible lac gene promoter. These artificial vectors are primarily identified by the blue-white screening. The phagemids contain the origin of replication for the double-stranded replication for enabling the packaging and the single-stranded replication in the phage particles.

4. What are the different features I can expect from the Vedantu notes on “cloning vector”?

The Vedantu notes on “Cloning vector” provide an excellent description and summary of the different aspects related to various cloning vectors and their analysis, their features, the cloning process, and their conclusion. These notes provide excellent reference material for biology students who are looking for reliable learning resources for their exams. These notes not only provide an accurate depiction of the chapter but also provide structured guidance on learning the different concepts related to a cloning vector.

5. How can I study from the Vedantu notes on “Cloning vector”?

The Vedantu notes on “Cloning vector” are available to download in PDF format for free. These notes can be downloaded from the Vedantu app and the website. The Vedantu app provides easy access to tons of learning content that is reliably curated and uploaded by highly qualified professionals at Vedantu. You just have to click on the “Download PDF” button for downloading the notes file to your device.

6. What are the types of Cloning Vector?

The types of Cloning vector are -