What is the YAC transformation efficiency?
Q: If packaging is involved with a cosmid, then why is the insert larger than a phage? A: In a lambda replacement vector, the lysogenic genes have been deleted but the lytic genes are still present. In a cosmid (which again is basically a plasmid with cos sites), all of the phage genes have been deleted. As such, there is simply more room for the insert. Q: Can you explain gene transfer? You mentioned it when you talked about why you would want to clone genes A: The idea of gene transfer is that you take a gene from one organism and by introducing that gene in another organism, allow a foreign gene product to be expressed. This could be useful in two kinds of ways: 1) conferring new biological benefits to another organism (e.g. making purple tomatos), 2) correcting a biological defect (e.g. gene therapy, using the correct copy of a gene to replace a defective copy). Q: Can’t phages be both ss & ds DNA or RNA? Or for the purpose of using them as vectors you use the ones with ds DNA. A:
