Compare the Difference Between Similar Terms

Difference Between

Home / Science & Nature / Science / Biology / Molecular Biology / Difference Between Plasmid and Episome

Difference Between Plasmid and Episome

April 12, 2017 Posted by Dr.Samanthi

Key Difference – Plasmid vs Episome
 

Organisms possess chromosomal DNA and extrachromosomal DNA. Chromosomal DNA serves as the major part of the genetic material which contains the heredity information. Extrachromosomal DNA is also are important for organisms; in prokaryotes, extrachromosomal DNA possesses special genes such as antibiotic resistance, resistance to various heavy metals, and macromolecule degradation. Plasmid and episome are two kinds of extrachromosomal DNA of organisms. Plasmids are closed, circular and double-stranded DNA of bacteria. Episome is another kind of comparatively larger extrachromosomal DNA possessed by organisms. The key difference between plasmid and episome is that plasmids are unable to integrate with bacterial chromosomal DNA while episomes are capable of integrating with chromosomal DNA.

CONTENTS
1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is a Plasmid
3. What is an Episome
4. Side by Side Comparison – Plasmid vs Episome
5. Summary

What is a Plasmid?

Plasmid is a small circular double stranded DNA. Bacteria contain plasmids as their extra chromosomal material. Plasmids are capable of self-replication without linking with chromosomes. They carry genes or the information which are necessary for its own replication and maintenance. Hence they are considered as independent DNA.

Plasmids are very small in size. They exist as closed circles inside the bacteria. Plasmids contain essential genes of bacteria. These genes encode special traits which are beneficial to bacteria such as antibiotic resistance, degradation of macromolecules, heavy metal tolerance and production of bacteriocins.

Plasmids have immense use in Molecular biology as vectors. The double stranded nature of the DNA, antibiotic resistance genes, self-replicating ability and special restriction sites are the important characteristics which made plasmids more suitable as vector molecules in recombinant DNA technology. Plasmids are also easy to isolate and transform into host bacteria.

Key Difference - Plasmid vs Episome

Figure 01: Plasmids

What is an Episome?

Episome is an extrachromosomal piece of genetic material which can exist as an independent DNA for some time and an integrated form into genomic DNA of the organism some other time. Episomes are considered as non-essential genetic elements. They are mostly originated outside the host in a virus or in another bacterium. They can enter the host organism and exist as extrachromosomal DNA and later integrate with genomic DNA and replicate. If they exist as non-integrated units, they are subject to destruction by the host cell. If integrated, new copies of the episomes will be produced and passed into daughter cells too.

Episomes can be distinguished from plasmids due to their larger size. Some examples include insertion sequences, F factor of bacteria, and certain viruses.

Difference Between Plasmid and Episome

Figure 02: Episomes

What is the difference between Plasmid and Episome?

Plasmid vs Episome

Plasmid is a small, circular, double-stranded extrachromosomal DNA molecule of bacteria. Episome is a kind of extrachromosomal DNA which is larger than plasmids.
Ability to Self-replicate
It contains the necessary information for self-replication. It does not contain information for self-replication.
Link with Chromosomal DNA
They are unable to link with chromosomal DNA of bacteria. They can be integrated with chromosomal DNA.
Special Genes Encoding
Some genes located in plasmids provide special traits to the bacteria such as antibiotic resistance, heavy metal tolerance, etc. Episomes do not contain special genes. F plasmid contains only F factor DNA.
Use as Vectors
Plasmids are used as vectors. Episomes are not used as vectors.

Summary – Plasmid vs Episome

Episome and plasmid serve as extrachromosomal DNA of bacteria. Plasmids are self-replicating small circular DNA molecules which possess special traits such as antibiotic resistance etc. Plasmids are used as vectors in recombinant DNA technology. Plasmids cannot integrate into bacterial chromosome. Episome is another type of extrachromosomal DNA of bacteria. They are able to integrate into bacterial chromosomes and pass into daughter cells during replication. They are larger than plasmids contain more base pairs. This is the difference between plasmids and episomes.

References:
1. Abbas, Wasim. “Episomes.” Dna, Chromosome, Genetic, and Host – JRank Articles. N.p., n.d. Web. 08 Apr. 2017
2. Couturier, M., F. Bex, P. L. Bergquist, and W. K. Maas. “Identification and classification of bacterial plasmids.” Microbiological Reviews. U.S. National Library of Medicine, Sept. 1988. Web. 08 Apr. 2017
3. Bennett, P. M. “Plasmid encoded antibiotic resistance: acquisition and transfer of antibiotic resistance genes in bacteria.” British Journal of Pharmacology. Nature Publishing Group, Mar. 2008. Web. 08 Apr. 2017

Related posts:

Difference Between Replication and TranscriptionDifference Between Replication and Transcription Difference Between Maxam Gilbert and Sanger SequencingDifference Between Maxam Gilbert and Sanger Sequencing Difference Between Direct and Indirect ELISADifference Between Direct and Indirect ELISA Difference Between Transient and Stable TransfectionDifference Between Transient and Stable Transfection Difference Between Selectable Marker and Reporter GeneDifference Between Selectable Marker and Reporter Gene

Filed Under: Molecular Biology Tagged With: Compare Plasmid and Episome, Episome, Episome Definition, Episome Features, Plasmid, Plasmid and Episome Differences, Plasmid Definition, Plasmid Features, Plasmid vs Episome

About the Author: Dr.Samanthi

Dr.Samanthi Udayangani holds a B.Sc. Degree in Plant Science, M.Sc. in Molecular and Applied Microbiology, and PhD in Applied Microbiology. Her research interests include Bio-fertilizers, Plant-Microbe Interactions, Molecular Microbiology, Soil Fungi, and Fungal Ecology.

Comments

  1. Amira says

    May 15, 2018 at 6:46 pm

    thank u so much very helpful !

    Reply
  2. Madhusmita says

    June 25, 2018 at 6:28 am

    Thank you very much

    Reply
  3. Ritu hazra says

    July 30, 2018 at 2:49 am

    Thank you so much

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Request Article

Featured Posts

Difference Between Coronavirus and Cold Symptoms

Difference Between Coronavirus and Cold Symptoms

Difference Between Coronavirus and SARS

Difference Between Coronavirus and SARS

Difference Between Coronavirus and Influenza

Difference Between Coronavirus and Influenza

Difference Between Coronavirus and Covid 19

Difference Between Coronavirus and Covid 19

You May Like

Difference Between Lenovo K800 and Samsung Galaxy S II

Difference Between HTC Sensation and Samsung Galaxy S2 (Galaxy S II)

Difference Between HTC Sensation and Samsung Galaxy S2 (Galaxy S II)

Difference Between Vulnerability and Threat

Difference Between Dialect and Accent

Difference Between Dialect and Accent

Difference Between Plants and Animals

Difference Between Plants and Animals

Latest Posts

  • What is the Difference Between Diphtheria and Whooping Cough
  • What is the Difference Between Polyester and Satin
  • What is the Difference Between Syphilis and Gonorrhea
  • What is the Difference Between Stainless Steel and Sterling Silver
  • What is the Difference Between Infrared and Induction Cooker
  • What is the Difference Between Polyester and Viscose
  • Home
  • Vacancies
  • About
  • Request Article
  • Contact Us

Copyright © 2010-2018 Difference Between. All rights reserved. Terms of Use and Privacy Policy: Legal.