Question

Transfer of plasmids from one cell to another can also be done conjugation. The plasmid to be transferred known as ______ is often unable to do so by itself and thus it relies on other plasmids known as ______

(a) cargo, conjugal

(b) conjugal, cargo

(c) cargo, helper

(d) conjugal, helper

The question was posed to me in semester exam.

Origin of the question is Bacteria topic in division Using Other Organisms of Genetic Engineering

Answer 1

Correct option is (a) cargo, conjugal

The explanation: Plasmids can also be transferred from one cell to another through conjugation. Plasmids which are unable to transfer themselves are referred as cargo plasmids and they often rely on other plasmids which are called as conjugal plasmids. At times, helper plasmids are used in order to protect cargo plasmids from degradation.