Bacterial plasmids often encode proteins that are not essential to the bacterium's survival, such as antibiotic resistance genes or virulence factors. Additionally, plasmids are often circular but can sometimes be linear, and they can replicate independently of the bacterial chromosome. Plasmids are not always covalently joined to the bacterial chromosome and are composed of DNA, not RNA.

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Bacterial Plasmids

Question 19

Multiple Choice

Bacterial plasmids:

A) are always covalently joined to the bacterial chromosome.
B) are composed of RNA.
C) are never circular.
D) cannot replicate when cells divide.
E) often encode proteins not normally essential to the bacterium's survival.

Correct Answer: