What is the difference between plasmid and chromosomal

[brittbabey33]

Hello everyone!
I have a question about DNA.
What is the difference between plasmid and chromosomal DNA in a cell?


thank you

[Fred J]

I guess you mean chromosomal DNA is in the nucleus and plasmids are outside the nucleus.

[admin]

Hello Britt,
welcome to the forums.

If you are talking about bacteria, plasmids are naturally found in bacteria (where they were isolated) and are smaller circular free (ie in cytosol of bacteria) DNA molecules.
Plasmid DNA can also be transferred to other bacteria.

Chromosomal DNA is larger and is attached to the bacterium physically.

Cheers

[snehas]

Plasmids are extrachromosomal material. Plasmids are found mostly in bacteria and in some eukaryotes like yeast. (However, plasmids are rarely found in humans, unless they have had gene therapies). Both are DNA i.e. both are made up of building blocks called nucleotides. Chromosomal DNA usually contains all the genetic information of the organism. Which encodes most of the proteins required for the organisms normal functions. Whereas the plasmids provide additional DNA materials and additional functions to the organisms. The plasmids present in bacteria can make them resistant to antibiotics.

[chikoo]

Plasmid is the extra set of DNA in the bacterial cell

[tinny4u2000]

A plasmid is a small circular supercoiled extrachromosomal piece of DNA which usually bears no genes essential for the survival of the host but may confer some favourable phenotypes on the host.
the chromosomal DNA bears the hereditary information and also codes for all the functions absolutely essential for the survival of the cell.it is also larger in size.

[mani]

plasmids are found only in bacteria and they do some specific funtion depending on the bacterial cell .some plasmid offer resistance against metallic ,some for antibiotics........and chromasomal dna is found in every eukaryotic cell