Question

Plasmids that can integrate into the bacterial DNA are called ______.

Answer 1

Plasmids that can integrate into the bacterial DNA are called episomes.

Explanation:

Episomes are special kinds of plasmids that are capable of integrating into the bacterial chromosome, thereby replicating along with the host DNA. Unlike regular plasmids, which exist independently in the cytoplasm, episomes can become part of the bacterial genome, facilitating stable inheritance during cell division. This property is crucial in genetic engineering and molecular biology for stable gene transfer and expression within bacterial cells.