Phages

Phages are viruses that infect bacteria and contain linear DNA into which foreign DNA fragments can be inserted for cloning purposes.

• Phages typically contain linear DNA molecules.
• Foreign DNA can be easily inserted into these molecules at various specific restriction enzyme sites.
• The newly formed chimeric (recombinant) DNA is collected after the phage completes its lytic cycle, which results in the production of mature, infective phage particles.

• Vectors are biological carriers, such as plasmids and viruses, that are used to transport foreign DNA into a host organism.
• Creating New Vectors: By interchanging fragments of plasmid DNA and viral DNA, scientists have synthesised several new, advanced vectors.
• Application: These engineered vectors are highly versatile and are used to carry new genes into a wide variety of host cells, including bacteria, yeast, insects, plants, and animals.

• The Process: Transformation is the biological process of successfully introducing these foreign DNA fragments (carried by vectors) into an appropriate host cell.
• Transformed Cells: Once the host cells successfully take in and incorporate this foreign DNA, they are officially said to be "transformed".

• Phages typically possess linear DNA molecules that allow for the insertion of foreign DNA at various specific restriction enzyme sites.
• Chimeric or recombinant DNA is successfully collected after the phage completes its lytic cycle and produces mature, infective particles.
• Plasmids and viruses serve as vectors, acting as biological carriers to effectively transport foreign DNA into target organisms.
• By interchanging plasmid and viral DNA fragments, scientists synthesise new vectors capable of delivering genes into diverse bacterial, yeast, insect, plant, and animal cells.
• The biological process of successfully introducing these foreign DNA fragments into a suitable host cell is formally known as transformation.