plasmid definition by Wordo

Noun

A

loop

of

double-stranded

DNA

that

is

separate

from

and

replicates

independently

of

the

chromosomes

,

most

commonly

found

in

bacteria

,

but

also

in

archaeans

and

eukaryotic

cells

,

and

used

in

genetic engineering

as

a

vector

for

gene

transfer

.