Question

What are antibiotic resistance genes?

Answer 1

Antibiotic resistance genes:

1. Antibiotic resistance is caused by changes or mutations in the DNA of bacteria or by horizontal gene transfer of antibiotic resistance genes from other bacteria.
2. Antibiotic resistance genes are genes that if expressed, provide antibiotic resistance to its host.
3. Such kinds of genes are typically found within the plasmids of bacterial cells.
4. Antibiotic resistance genes called selectable marker genes aid in the selection of host cells that contain the vector (transformants) and the elimination of non-transformants.
5. Antibiotic resistance genes like ampicillin and tetracycline can be used as E.coli selectable markers.
6. As a result, the presence of antibiotic resistance genes in a vector often aids in the selection of transformed cells.