The Student Room Group

Biology help needed! Why do some prokaryotes have both DNA and plasmids?

If they can just use their plasmids to self-replicate, why do they need DNA?
Reply 1
Original post by honour
If they can just use their plasmids to self-replicate, why do they need DNA?


They do not have a membrane-bound nucleus and their DNA is free in the cytoplasm.Bacteria have a single circular chromosome in the centre of the cell that holds all the genes needed for that bacterium. Bacteria also have extra circles of DNA called plasmids.
Reply 2
Original post by honour
If they can just use their plasmids to self-replicate, why do they need DNA?


DNA achieves this feat of storing, coding and transferring biological information though its unique structure.
Reply 3
Original post by Lucky10
They do not have a membrane-bound nucleus and their DNA is free in the cytoplasm.Bacteria have a single circular chromosome in the centre of the cell that holds all the genes needed for that bacterium. Bacteria also have extra circles of DNA called plasmids.


So when bacteria have both DNA and plasmids, they don't actually need the plasmids?
Reply 4
Original post by honour
So when bacteria have both DNA and plasmids, they don't actually need the plasmids?


The plasmids do as they enables the gene to move around

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