Question

Question: Compare the properties of cloning vectors such as pUC18, bacteriophage λ, and BACs

Short answer

Answer

The pUC18 is a bacterial vector, whereas the bacteriophage lambda (λ) is a bacteriophage vector and Bacterial Artificial Chromosome (BAC) is an artificial vector.

Step-by-step solution

Cloning

Genetic engineering technology creates exact copies or clones of a specific gene or DNA sequence.In this process, desired DNA segment is transferred into a vector molecule, which is then allowed to infect a host cell. Inside the cell, it undergoes replication and produces copies of the inserted gene and its replication.

Comparison of the properties of cloning vector

The properties of the vectors are discussed as follows:

• pUC-18 is a plasmid vector that is less useful for cloning large DNA fragments, bacteriophage λ can be used to clone large DNA fragments(10-23 Kb), and BAC can be used to clone even larger stretches of the gene (200-300 Kb) than lambda phage.

• pUC-18 is small and easy to handle, λ phages are not easy to handle, and BAC is also easy to handle.

• pUC-18 has a high copy number, bacteriophage λ has a low copy number, and BAC has a very low copy number(1-2 per cell).

Hence,pUC-18, bacteriophage λ, and BAC are compared based on the properties discussed.